Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow

The rusty-crowned ground sparrow (Melozone kieneri) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is endemic to Mexico. == Taxonomy and systematics == The rusty-crowned ground sparrow was formally described in 1850 with the binomial Pyrgisoma kieneri. It was later reassigned to its current genus Melozone that had also been described in 1850. The rusty-crowned ground sparrow has three subspecies, the nominate M. k. kieneri (Bonaparte, 1850), M. k. grisior (Van Rossem, 1933), and M. k. rubricata (Cabanis, 1851). == Description == The rusty-crowned ground sparrow is 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 35 to 41 g (1.2 to 1.4 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a dusky black forecrown and a rufous crown; the rufous continues around behind the dusky black ear coverts and then forward under them. They have white lores and a broken white eye-ring. Their upperparts, wings, and tail are brown. Their underparts are mostly white with a black spot in the center of the breast, brown flanks, and rufescent undertail coverts. Juveniles have a rich dusky brown head and upperparts with darker streaks on the latter. Their throat and underparts are…