About Peucaea botterii (P.L.Sclater, 1858)
Botteri's sparrow (scientific name Peucaea botterii, published by P.L. Sclater in 1858) is a medium-sized passerine sparrow. It is primarily found in Mexico. Its breeding range extends into the southeastern tip of the U.S. state of Arizona, and there is a small non-migratory population in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas that is threatened by habitat loss. Between the 1890s and the mid-20th century, the species was not recorded in Arizona due to excessive livestock grazing. Now it is locally common within its Arizona range, following vegetation recovery. Fledgling juvenile Botteri's sparrows apparently require dense vegetation to hide in. They prefer the uncommon native sacaton grass Sporobolus wrightii, but can also successfully use stands of the introduced non-native Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and Boer lovegrass (E. curvula var. conferta), though they occur at lower population densities in these non-native stands. The species name commemorates ornithologist Matteo Botteri (1808–1877).
