ABSTRACT
Clay-colored Sparrows (Spizella pallida) are common and widespread breeding birds of the Great Plains of North America. They generally inhabit expanses of shrub-covered prairie, but also occur in other habitats, such as young conifer plantations. They winter mostly on the central plateau of Mexico and arrive on their breeding grounds in the northern Great Plains in early May. Males establish territories quickly; territory sizes are usually quite small, averaging about 1/10 ha. Males defend territories vigorously during the first part of the nesting season, but territorial defense wanes in July. Pairs of Clay-colored Sparrows usually raise one brood per year, although two broods are not infrequent. The species is monogamous, and each male was found to attract a female, regardless of territory size. Clay-colored Sparrow's songs are structurally simple, males' songs are individually distinct, and a male repeatedly uses a few prominent song perches within his territory.
