<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='359804'>White-faced Ground-Sparrow

Open Bird Bucket List ↗

En bref

  • Scientific Name: Melozone biarcuata
  • Spanish Name: Pinzón cariblanco
  • Family: Passerellidae
  • Known Nicknames: White-faced Finch, Prevost's Ground-Sparrow
  • Average Length: 15–17 cm / 5.9–6.7 in
  • Average Weight: 28–36 g / 1.0–1.3 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Striking white face patch bordered by black, with a chestnut crown and nape
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Granivore (seeds) and Insectivore
  • Range: Southern Mexico (Chiapas) through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, to west-central Nicaragua
  • Habitat: Understory of humid montane forest, forest edges, and dense secondary growth
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs during breeding; loosely social in small flocks outside breeding season
  • Nesting/Breeding: Ground or low in dense vegetation; builds a bulky cup nest
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The White-faced Ground-Sparrow (*Melozone biarcuata*) is a striking, secretive bird of Central American highlands, instantly recognizable by its bold facial pattern: a bright white face framed by black "whiskers" and a contrasting chestnut crown and nape. Its general appearance is that of a plump, long-tailed sparrow with olive-brown upperparts and a pale belly, but its most special feature is the unique, high-pitched, metallic "tseep" call often given from dense thickets. Unlike many sparrows, this species is highly terrestrial, foraging exclusively on the ground for seeds and insects, and it is known for its elusive behavior, rarely flying far from cover. A true gem for patient birders, its vivid facial mask and reclusive habits make it a memorable inhabitant of cloud forest undergrowth.

Faits amusants

The White-faced Ground-Sparrow has a bizarre, almost theatrical habit of "anting"—it will deliberately crush ants and rub them through its feathers, using the formic acid as a natural pesticide and fungicide. Though its name suggests a shy skulker, males are surprisingly pugnacious, often engaging in fierce, beak-locked tug-of-war battles over territory that can last for minutes. It also possesses a unique vocal trick: its song is a clear, descending whistle that sounds eerily like a human whistle, leading to frequent confusion with birders imitating it in the field.

Habitats et répartition

The White-faced Ground-Sparrow is found in Middle America, ranging from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and into northwestern Costa Rica. It primarily inhabits the understory and edges of humid to semi-arid forests, including tropical deciduous forests, pine-oak woodlands, and second-growth scrub. This species is often associated with dense, tangled thickets, brushy ravines, and coffee plantations with ample ground cover, where it forages close to the soil. It avoids the interior of mature, closed-canopy rainforests, preferring disturbed or edge habitats up to an elevation of roughly 1,500 meters.

Comportements & Reproduction

This species is typically found in pairs or small family groups, maintaining a cohesive social structure within dense undergrowth. Mating pairs are monogamous and defend a territory year-round, with both sexes participating in nest construction. The nest is a bulky cup placed low in a shrub or tangle of vines, often hidden by overhanging vegetation. Clutch size is usually two to three pale blue eggs with fine brown speckling. A notable reproductive strategy involves the female incubating alone while the male provides food and guards the nest site. After hatching, both parents feed the chicks, and fledglings may remain with the adults for several weeks, sometimes assisting with subsequent broods in a cooperative breeding arrangement.

Alimentation

The White-faced Ground-Sparrow is primarily granivorous, with seeds making up the bulk of its diet, but it is also an opportunistic insectivore. It forages almost exclusively on the ground, often in pairs or small family groups, using a distinctive scratching motion with both feet to uncover food hidden beneath leaf litter and soil. A particularly interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its strong association with army ant swarms; while it does not eat the ants themselves, it will actively follow these swarms to capture the insects, spiders, and other arthropods flushed from the undergrowth, a strategy known as "ant-following" that is more commonly associated with certain antbirds and tanagers. Additionally, it will occasionally consume small fruits and berries, especially during the non-breeding season when insect availability declines.

Couleurs

The White-faced Ground-Sparrow has a striking gray head with a bold white face and a black mask extending from the eye to the bill. Its upperparts are olive-brown, while the underparts are pale gray to whitish, with a distinctive black crescent or spot on the breast. It lacks prominent camouflage adaptations, relying instead on its cryptic brownish back and ground-dwelling behavior to blend into leaf litter.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.