Identification

Total length 16.5–18 mm (1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ). A large, bulky, flat-headed sparrow with a pointed, all-black bill (2 Byers, C., J. Curson, and J. Olsson (1995). Sparrows and Buntings: A Guide to the Sparrows and Buntings of North America and the World. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY, USA. Close , 1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ). Adults of both sexes have a black face and a creamy white supercilium. The sides of the crown are chestnut with black streaks, and the median crown stripe is gray, streaked with black. The pale gray underparts become white on the throat and are washed buff on the flanks (1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ). Juveniles are similar in coloration but have a yellowish bill, a much duller head pattern, less neatly-marked upperparts, and spotted flanks (1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ).

Generally rather shy when seen (2 Byers, C., J. Curson, and J. Olsson (1995). Sparrows and Buntings: A Guide to the Sparrows and Buntings of North America and the World. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY, USA. Close ), but also described as noisy and conspicuous (1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ).

Superficially similar to Stripe-headed Sparrow (Peucaea ruficauda), but Striped Sparrow (adult and juvenile) is readily separated from that species by its entirely black bill and brown crown with a less obvious median stripe (2 Byers, C., J. Curson, and J. Olsson (1995). Sparrows and Buntings: A Guide to the Sparrows and Buntings of North America and the World. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY, USA. Close , 1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ).

Distinguished from Rusty Sparrow (Aimophila rufescens), Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps), and Oaxaca Sparrow (Aimophila notosticta) by its completely white supercilium (including the postocular portion), blackish mask (auriculars), and paler underparts (1 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ).