Amphispiza

Amphispiza is a genus of birds in the bunting and American sparrow family. It contains three species:


 * Five-striped Sparrow Amphispiza quinquestriata
 * Black-throated Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata
 * Sage Sparrow, Amphispiza belli

The genus may be paraphyletic, so the genus name Artemisiospiza has been proposed for A. belli and A. bilineata.

Both inhabit dry areas of the western United States and northern Mexico, but in different habitats. They frequently run on the ground with their tails cocked and sing from low bushes. Adults are whitish on the belly and gray above and on the head, with black and white head markings. Juveniles are rather similar to each other, grayish brown above and whitish below, with short streaks on the breast.

Amphispiza is from Ancient Greek amphi- (αμφι-), "on both sides" or "around", and spiza (σπιζα), "finch", originally applied to the Sage Sparrow; it was then considered a finch and resembles some other finch-like birds "around" it, that is, in its range.