Sounds and Vocal Behavior

The song of Sierra Madre Sparrow is highly variable, often beginning with two to three rather indistinct "signal" notes; the remainder of the song varies greatly but incorporates a buzzing series of notes described as tzee or zhip or a scratchy jeep that alternates high and low or in an ascending scale (Dickerman et al. 1967). Howell and Webb (1995) describe the song as a varied arrangement of nasal, plaintive, or burry chips, often including a burry buzz, and sometimes with a rapid series of 4-5 chips near the start. Typically the series of 7-12 chips is described as chie tsi si-sii-r zzzzzr sir chi-i or tchiu-sir si si si-chu sier or chi-chi-chi-chi-chi zzzzzzzr si-ch' hu or whie zzzzzzzr whie-tu (Howell and Webb 1995). The song of the Sierra Madre Sparrow has been described as similar to those of Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001, Benitez et al. 2014).

For a representative audio recording with sonogram, see audio

Calls of Sierra Madre Sparrow include a nasal nyew or cheh similar to calls of Song Sparrow, and a high, thin ssi (Howell and Webb (1995). When departing from the nest, Sierra Madre Sparrows give a short, soft twittering call (Oliveras de Ita et al. 2001).

Additional audio recordings of vocalizations of Sierra Madre Sparrow can be heard at Macaulay Library, at xeno-canto, and at Internet Bird Collection.

None reported.