Olive Sparrow
Arremonops rufivirgatus
Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPasserellidae (New World Sparrows)
- GenusArremonops (Olive Sparrows and Allies)
- SpeciesArremonops rufivirgatus (Olive Sparrow)
About the Olive Sparrow
The olive sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found from Texas to Costa Rica. The olive sparrow was formally described in 1851 with the binomial Embernagra rufivigata and the English name "brown striped olive finch". In 1896 Robert Ridgway erected the genus Arremonops and reassigned the olive sparrow to it as the type species.
The olive sparrow's further taxonomy is unsettled. The IOC and AviList assign it these eight subspecies: A. r. rufivirgatus (Lawrence, 1851) A. r. crassirostris (Ridgway, 1878) A. r. rhyptothorax Parkes, 1974 A. r. verticalis (Ridgway, 1878)
A. r. sinaloae Nelson, 1899 A. r. sumichrasti (Sharpe, 1888) A. r. chiapensis Nelson, 1904 A. r. superciliosus (Salvin, 1865) However, as of late 2025 the Clements taxonomy and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World add a ninth subspecies, A. r. ridgwayi (Sutton & Burleigh, 1941). The other systems include it within the nominate A. r. rufivirgatus.
This article follows the eight-subspecies model. The olive sparrow is about 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 15 to 30 g... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Olive Sparrow in Masaya Volcano National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Masaya Volcano National Park
Stripe-headed Sparrow
Peucaea ruficauda
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Rufous-backed Wren
Campylorhynchus capistratus
Cinnamon-bellied Saltator
Saltator grandis
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Melodious Blackbird
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Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
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Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Rose-throated Becard
Pachyramphus aglaiae
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Rincón de la Vieja National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Palo Verde National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 6 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Carara National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 8 | Ostional Wildlife Refuge | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 9 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 11 | Masaya Volcano National Park | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | |
| 12 | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 13 | Tikal National Park | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 14 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 15 | Biotopo Cerro Cahuí | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 16 | Las Baulas Marine National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Olive Sparrow in Masaya Volcano National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Olive Sparrow sighting in Masaya Volcano National Park, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Olive Sparrow in Masaya Volcano National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Olive Sparrow in Masaya Volcano National Park in our monthly data.