General Description: Rufous-winged Sparrows (Peucaea carpalis) are small, sexually monomorphic, clear-breasted sparrows. They are gray overall with a streaked rufous crown and a white eye ring. On the gray face, they have a rufous stripe behind the eye and two thin, black mustache marks set against a light throat. The back is streaked with black, brown, and white, and the chest and belly are plain gray. There are "rufous" patches on the wings, but they are usually concealed.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Emberizidae. Formerly Aimophila carpalis.

Favored Habitat: Sonoran Desert thorn scrub and grasslands.

Where to Find: Don't look for Rufous-winged Sparrows around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in southern Arizona and south into northern Mexico.

Comments: This species does not nest in the spring; rather, they nest after the Sonoran Desert summer rains begin.