| Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrow | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Emberizidae |
| Genus: | Melozone |
| Species: | M. kieneri |
| Binomial name | |
| Melozone kieneri (Bonaparte, 1850) |
|
The Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrow (Melozone kieneri) is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is endemic to western and southwestern Mexico. The species occurs both in the Sierra Madre Occidental range, and the Cordillera Neovolcanica mountain belt.
Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrow natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.
Its size ranges from six to seven inches (15–17.5 cm). The adult has a rufous crown with white lore spot. Face is olive brown with white eye ring. Upper parts grayish olive. Throat and underparts white with black central chest spot. Undertail covers pale cinnamon. Juveniles are dusky brown on the upper parts. The throat and underparts are dirty pale lemon, streaked brown.
