Rufous-crowned Sparrow Gallery

Aimophila ruficeps

eBird gives this description of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow:  Fairly large grayish-brown sparrow of scrubby, arid hillsides. Rufous crown, rufous stripe behind eye, and white mustache bordered by black. Otherwise plain grayish below with brown and rufous markings above. Found on or near the ground, especially on dry slopes with scattered shrubs. Often heard before it is seen, so listen for its song, a descending jumble of husky notes.  All About Birds adds this descriptive information about the Rufous-crowned Sparrow:  The hot, rocky hillsides of the Southwest can look inhospitable on a baking summer day, but they’re exactly the kind of place Rufous-crowned Sparrows call home. These bulky, long-tailed sparrows forage on the ground beneath sparse shrubs and grasses. These are attractive sparrows with reddish toned upperparts and neat gray underparts, accentuated by a white eyering and a white malar or whisker stripe on the face. Males sing a short, jumbled song with a bubbly quality that recalls a House Wren.

I saw and photographed the Rufous-crowned Sparrow at a blind at Davis Mountains State Park on September 1, 2020.  There was a single bird who made a brief appearance…glad I got this picture!