The Bell’s sage sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli belli) is a small, brownish songbird with a gray head, a white breast, and a distinctive dark spot in the center of its chest. Well-adapted to arid environments, this sparrow thrives in dry, open areas of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and desert scrub habitats, across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Within the MSHCP area, the sparrow is widely distributed in suitable habitats but occur in low numbers.

These sparrows spend most of their time foraging on the ground or darting between shrubs, staying close to cover to avoid predators. Their diet consists mainly of seeds with insects added during the breeding season for extra protein for growing young. Breeding takes place between February and July, with nests built low in shrubs and well-hidden from predators. Females typically lay two to four eggs, which hatch after about two weeks.

The Bell’s sage sparrow was once classified as a California Species of Special Concern, however, this species has been downgraded to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Watch List. Still habitat loss, including from the encroachment of invasive plants and other factors, continue to threaten this species.

The MSHCP has identified more than 245,000 acres of suitable habitat for conservation to support the Bell’s sage sparrow.

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