Behavior

The general behavior of Sierra Madre Sparrow species has been compared to the behavior of Ammodramus sparrows and of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis). In the spring and summer, singing males are conspicuous. During the remainder of the year, this species is highly secretive, being reluctant to flush and dropping back into the grass to run along the ground (Dickerman et al. 1967).

Males usually sing from tall grass stalks, rocks, and while in flight; they have also been occasionally observed singing from the ground, from the top of an isolated pine tree, and from the edge of adjacent cultivated fields (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001).

Densities of 2.9 territories/ha have been recorded at La Cima (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001). Breeding territories are restricted to the bunchgrass-covered areas, and territories frequently overlap at the edges (Oliveras de Ita and Gómez de Silva 2007). Most territorial males sing frequently. Males become more territorial during the breeding season, though not all males are site-faithful throughout the breeding season; a few have been known to establish territories away from their original territory range. Oliveras de Ita et al. (2001) documented one male that held two simultaneous territories, each with an active nest. In addition, there was evidence of non-territorial males or males whose territories were outside the study plot (floaters), suggesting approximately 1-2 floaters per breeding pair. In the second year of a study 76% of the previous year’s territorial males (16) were observed again and 14 of those established territories in the same general area as the previous year (Oliveras de Ita and Gómez de Silva 2007).

Males sing from the stalks of bunchgrasses or nearby flowering plants (20-45 cm high) (Oliveras de Ita and Rojas-Soto 2006). No additional information is available on the sexual behavior of Sierra Madre Sparrow.

Sierra Madre Sparrow usually is solitary or in pairs.

High predation rates occur at Sierra Madre Sparrow nests (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001,Oliveras de Ita and Gómez de Silva 2007). No predation events were directly observed but multiple potential mammal, reptile and avian predators were observed (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001).