Rufous-winged Sparrow
Peucaea carpalis
(Aimophila carpalis)
Catalina State Park, Pima Co., Arizona, USA, 31 May 2015.
Rufous-winged Sparrows inhabit the grassy open areas between shrubs and trees in the mesquite bosques. The rufous patch in the wing can be concealed, so look also for the rufous crown, the pale gray chest and belly, and the pair of black whisker marks. Fairly common in the right habitat from Tucson and south into Mexico.
A good supply of insects are required for breeding and this food supply arrives with the onset of monsoon summer rains. After the breeding season seeds become the primary food.