Red-caped amophophile

The red-caped amophophile belongs to the oatmeal family, which combines small and medium-sized passerine birds with the characteristic structure of the beak and the jaw apparatus, which is well suited for processing hard seeds. Within this large group, the species is included in the small genus amimophile , in which, in addition to the red-caped amimophile, two more species are currently included. Aimophiles are stocky birds 12–20 cm long, with elongated beak and tail, and short rounded wings. Inhabit arid shrub landscapes in North and South America, build cup-shaped nests from grass ^[2] .

A species called Ammodramus ruficeps was described in 1852 by American ornithologist John Cassin ^[3] . According to a molecular study in 2008, in which the genus Aimophila was divided into 4 taxa, the closest related group of birds to the amimophiles is the representatives of the genus Pipilo ^[4] . The generic epithet is a combination of two ancient Greek words: ἀιμος (shrub) and φιλος (lover) ^[5] . The species epithet is a derivative of the Latin word rufus (reddish, red) and the suffix is ceps (-head) ^[6] .

The described species is classified as the so-called “American sparrow ” ( English american sparrow ) - a conditional group of granivorous birds in the family of oatmeal birds , similar in color and habits (but not genetically) to Old World passerines . The bird is systematically classified as a small genus of amophophilus , in which it stands out by the smallest size: the total length does not exceed 13.5-15 cm, weight 15.2-23.3 g ^{[7] [3]} . Males, as a rule, are somewhat larger than females.

It is a densely built bird with a rounded head and a conical sharp beak. The wings are short, rounded, without striped marks. The tail is elongated, like wings, with a rounded edge. The color of the plumage of the back, wings and tail is grayish-brown with dark longitudinal streaks. Chest and belly are light gray, often with a buff or beige tint. The most characteristic distinguishing feature is the pattern of the plumage of the head: a rusty-red cap, light stripes along the eyebrows and along the lower edge of the cheek, and a white ring around the eye are clearly visible on a mostly gray background. The picture is complemented by a "mustache": two diverging dark stripes on the chin and throat. Sexual dimorphism does not appear in color. In young birds, the plumage is more buffy; there is no contrasting cap on the head. There are up to 12 subspecies, the difference between which is manifested in size, intensity of general color, thickness and intensity of dark speckles in the upper body ^{[3] [8] [9]} .

The song is short, consists of a series of gurgling or jerky sounds, faster at the end, similar to a house wren song. Calling - a sharp "chrrr" or thin "qi" ^{[10] [8]} . A frightened or agitated bird produces something like “diir ... diir ... diir” ^[11] .

Red-caped amophophila is widespread in the semi-arid and arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States , where it mainly inhabits dry canyons and rocky hills with grassy and sparse shrubbery, in particular chaparral . It settles on the coast in semi-open areas of shrubby steppe , in bright pine-oak and pine-juniper forests, it concentrates on clearings and edges ^[10] . The general spread of heights from 0 and 2700 m above sea level ^[12] , in the Sonora desert from 700 to 2100 m above sea level ^[13] .

In the United States, amimophila can be found in urbanized and agricultural areas of California , Arizona , southern New Mexico , Texas and Oklahoma . In Mexico, distributed in the western mountainous regions to the south to the states of Puebla and Oaxaca ^[14] . The bird is not able to overcome significant spaces on the fly, the maximum known distance for one flight is about 160 m ^[15] . Mostly sedentary, some mountain populations make vertical migrations.

In autumn and winter, it feeds mainly on grass and shrub seeds, as well as young shoots. In spring and summer, the diet is more diverse, in addition to plant food, includes a variety of arthropods , including ants , grasshoppers , ground beetles and spiders ^[11] .

The forage is extracted from the surface of the earth and the lower tier of shrubs, slowly moving in steps or jumps. It is difficult to spot a bird on the surface of the earth, as it usually hides among thick grass and avoids patches of bare soil. Most often, she gives out her presence on the branch, from where she sings or where from time to time she seeks food. When foraging, birds are usually kept in flocks consisting of members of the same family ^{[14] [11]} .

Males are territorial throughout the year ^[14] , the average size of the protected area in the California chaparral varies from two (0.81 ha ) to four (1.6 ha) acres ^[14] . Breeding dates are tied to the period of greatest rainfall: in California from February to June, in the southwestern desert territories from July to September ^[7] .

Red-caped amophiles are monogamous and nest in isolated pairs, which often persist for several years. Throughout the entire breeding season, you can hear the male singing from the front of the bush, which usually acts as the top of a bush or a low branch of a tree at the border of the site - this way the bird marks the territory and calls for a potential mate. Conflicts between the excited males are not uncommon for the right to the plot: in a collision they ruffle feathers on the head, and if this does not help, they lower their wings, raise their tail and stretch their heads toward the enemy ^{[10] [14]} .

The nest is cup-shaped from last year’s grass, with thick walls, lined with thin blades of grass and horse hair. Often, roots, pieces of bark or thin branches are also used as material ^[15] . As a rule, it is located directly on the ground in the shade of a bush, tall grass or overhanging stone. Very rarely there are nests on the branches of shrubs, but not higher than 45 cm above the ground ^[16] . The diameter of the finished building is about 4 inches (~ 10 cm), height 2.5 inches (~ 6.3 cm), tray depth 1.5 inches (~ 2.5 cm) ^[15] . The female is engaged in construction, the same place is used repeatedly ^[14] . In the clutch there are from two to five eggs of bluish-white color without marks, slightly shiny, 20.0 × 15.6 mm in size (data for A. r. Scotii subspecies ) ^{[11] [17]} . One or even two repeated masonry is possible, some of which are associated with the loss of the original ^[14] . Cases of breeding parasitism from the side of a brown-headed cow corpse have been reported ^{[14] [18] [8]} .

The incubation duration is 11–13 days; only the female incubates. She warms the chicks, although both birds of the pair bring food to the nest and feed offspring. Chicks leave the nest 8-9 days after birth, but at this age are not yet able to fly. Instead, they run fast and, when danger arises, hide under a nearby bush. Brood decay occurs in autumn or early winter. Reproductive success largely depends on the level of precipitation, the surge in fertility is correlated with the increased activity of the El Niño phenomenon, which is characterized by cool rainy weather. In such years, the activity of snakes, the main natural enemies of the amimophile, decreases ^[19] .

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