Ammodramus

Ammodramus is a genus of birds in the family Passerellidae, in the group known as American sparrows. Birds of this genus are known commonly as grassland sparrows.<ref name=itis>Ammodramus. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)</ref> The name Ammodramus is from the Greek for "sand runner".<ref>Beedy, E. C., E. R. Pandolfino, and K. Hansen. Birds of the Sierra Nevada: Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution. University of California Press. 2013. Page 314.</ref>

These birds live in grassland habitat. Some Ammodramus are socially monogamous and both parents care for the young. Other species are polygynous with no pair bonding and no paternal care.<ref>Hill, C. E., & Post, W. (2005). Extra-pair paternity in seaside sparrows. Journal of Field Ornithology, 76(2), 119-126.</ref>

Several species were once included in this genus, but have been reclassified into the genera Ammospiza and Centronyx by sources such as Birdlife International and the American Ornithological Society.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Current species in this genus include:<ref name=itis/><ref>Ammodramus. Birdlife.org</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Species

The fossil Ammodramus hatcheri (Late Miocene of Kansas, United States) was formerly placed in genus Palaeospiza or Palaeostruthus. The former may not be a passeriform at all, while the latter was eventually synonymized with Ammodramus, as A. hatcheri scarcely differs from the living species.<ref>Steadman, D. W., & McKitrick, M. C. (1982). A Pliocene bunting from Chihuahua, Mexico. The Condor, 84(2), 240-241.</ref>