Field Sparrow

SCI Name:  Spizella pusilla
Protonym:  Fringilla pusilla Am.Orn. 2 p.121 pl.16 fig.2
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Passerellidae / Spizella
Taxonomy Code:  fiespa
Type Locality:  Pennsylvania ; type from Philadelphia, fide Amer. Ornith. Union, 1931, Check-list North Amer. Birds, ed. 4, p. 349.
Author:  Wilson, A
Publish Year:  1810
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

SPIZELLA
(Passerellidae; Ϯ Field Sparrow S. pusilla) Dim. < Gr. σπιζα spiza  finch  < σπιζω spizō  to chirp; "FIELD SPARROW.  FRINGILLA PUSILLA.  ...  THIS is the smallest of all our Sparrows, and in Pennsylvania is generally migratory.  ...  It is more frequently found in the middle of fields and orchards than any of the other species, which usually lurk along hedge rows." (A. Wilson 1810); "3. Spizella, Nob.  (typ. Fr. pusilla, Wils.)" (Bonaparte 1831).
Synon. Spinites.

pusilla
L. pusillus  very little, very small  < dim. pusus  little boy  < puer  boy.
● ex “Cinclus dominicensis minor” of Brisson 1760 (Calidris).
● ex “Small Nuthatch” of Catesby 1731, “Petit Torchepot de la Caroline” of Brisson 1760, and “Petite Sittelle à tête brune” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Sitta).
● ex “Little Sparrow” of Catesby 1731 (Spizella).
● "59. CERTHIA.  ...  pusilla.  2. C. supra grisea, subtus alba, rectricibus fuscis: extimis apice albis.  Certhia fusca minor. Edw. av. 26. l. 26.  Habitat in India." (Linnaeus 1758) (unident.; nom. dub.).

SUBSPECIES

Field Sparrow (pusilla)
SCI Name: Spizella pusilla pusilla
pusilla
L. pusillus  very little, very small  < dim. pusus  little boy  < puer  boy.
● ex “Cinclus dominicensis minor” of Brisson 1760 (Calidris).
● ex “Small Nuthatch” of Catesby 1731, “Petit Torchepot de la Caroline” of Brisson 1760, and “Petite Sittelle à tête brune” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Sitta).
● ex “Little Sparrow” of Catesby 1731 (Spizella).
● "59. CERTHIA.  ...  pusilla.  2. C. supra grisea, subtus alba, rectricibus fuscis: extimis apice albis.  Certhia fusca minor. Edw. av. 26. l. 26.  Habitat in India." (Linnaeus 1758) (unident.; nom. dub.).

Field Sparrow (arenacea)
SCI Name: Spizella pusilla arenacea
arenacea / arenaceus
L. arenaceus  sandy  < arena (properly harena)  sand.