View source for Spizella

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = ''Spizella''
| image = Field sparrow in CP (41484) (cropped).jpg
| image_caption = [[Field sparrow]]<br />''Spizella pusilla''
| taxon = Spizella
| authority = [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1832
| type_species = ''[[Field sparrow|Fringilla pusilla]]''<ref name=HM4>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=232 |title= Passerellidae |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= aviansystematics.org |publisher= The Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date= 2023-07-16}}</ref>
| type_species_authority = A. Wilson, 1810
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
See text
}}

The genus '''''Spizella''''' is a group of [[American sparrow]]s in the family [[Passerellidae]].<ref name="New">{{cite journal |last1=Slager |first1=David L. |last2=Klicka |first2=John |title=A new genus for the American Tree Sparrow (Aves: Passeriformes: Passerellidae) |journal=Zootaxa |date=2014 |volume=3821 |issue=3 |pages=398–400 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3821.3.9 |pmid=24989754 |s2cid=34796887 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

These birds are fairly small and slim, with short bills, round heads and long wings. They are usually found in semi-open areas, and outside of the [[nesting season]] they often forage in small mixed flocks.<ref name = "New"/>

==Systematics==
This genus was formerly placed with the [[Old World]] [[Emberiza|buntings]] in the family Emberizidae.<ref name = "New"/> However, genetic studies revealed that [[New World]] sparrows formed a distinct clade and thus it was placed in the resurrected family Passerellidae.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Barker | first1=F.K. | last2=Burns | first2=K.J. | last3=Klicka | first3=J. | last4=Lanyon | first4=S.M. | last5=Lovette | first5=I.J. | year=2013 | title=Going to extremes: contrasting rates of diversification in a recent radiation of New World passerine birds | journal=Systematic Biology | volume=62 | issue=2 | pages=298–320 | doi=10.1093/sysbio/sys094 | pmid=23229025 | doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Barker | first1=F.K. | last2=Burns | first2=K.J. | last3=Klicka | first3=J. | last4=Lanyon | first4=S.M. | last5=Lovette | first5=I.J. | year=2015 | title=New insights into New World biogeography: An integrated view from the phylogeny of blackbirds, cardinals, sparrows, tanagers, warblers, and allies | journal=Auk | volume=132 | issue=2 | pages=333–346 | doi=10.1642/AUK-14-110.1 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Species===
* [[Chipping sparrow]], ''Spizella passerina''
* [[Clay-colored sparrow]], ''Spizella pallida''
* [[Brewer's sparrow]], ''Spizella breweri''
** [[Timberline sparrow]], ''Spizella breweri taverneri''
* [[Field sparrow]], ''Spizella pusilla''
* [[Worthen's sparrow]], ''Spizella wortheni''
* [[Black-chinned sparrow]], ''Spizella atrogularis''

The [[American tree sparrow]], ''Spizelloides arborea'', was formerly a member of this group, but is now placed in its own [[monotypic]] genus ''Spizelloides''.<ref name = "New"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Passeroidea|E.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q955626}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Spizella| ]]
[[Category:Bird genera]]
[[Category:American sparrows]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte]]