Nelson's Sparrow

SCI Name:  Ammospiza nelsoni
Protonym:  Ammodromus caudacutus nelsoni Proc.BostonSoc.Nat.Hist. 17 p.293
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Passerellidae / Ammospiza
Taxonomy Code:  nstspa
Type Locality:  Calumet Marshes, Ainsworth [= South Chicago] , Illinois.
Author:  Allen, JA
Publish Year:  1875
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

AMMOSPIZA
(Passerellidae; † Saltmarsh Sparrow A. caudacuta) Gr. αμμος ammos  sand; σπιζα spiza  finch  < σπιζω spizō  to chirp; "Since the term Ammodramus Swainson belongs to Coturniculus, as already shown, another name is required for the group to which the former has been applied, and as there is none such available, it may be called Ammospiza, from αμ,μος [sic] harena, and σπιζα, fringilla,  with Oriolus caudacutus Gmelin as the type." (Oberholser 1905); "Ammospiza Oberholser, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 48, p. 68, May 13, 1905—new name for Ammodramus Swainson, Dec., 1827, preoccupied." (Hellmayr, 1938, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. XI, p. 504) (see Ammodramus).
Synon. Ammodramus, Passerina.

nelsoni
• Dr Edward William Nelson (1855-1934) US zoologist, collector in US and Mexico, President of AOU 1908, and Chief of US Biological Survey 1916-1927 (subsp. Agelaius phoeniceus, Ammospiza, syn. Antrostomus badius, subsp. Campephilus guatemalensis, subsp. Campylorhynchus megalopterus, subsp. Catharus frantzii, syn. Colinus virginianus insignis, subsp. Cyanocorax sanblasianus, syn. Dryobates pubescens medianus, subsp. Eupherusa eximia, Geothlypis, subsp. Habia rubica, subsp. Icterus cucullatus, subsp. Lagopus mutum, syn. Lanius ludovicianus mexicanus, syn. Larus vegae x L. hyperboreus hybrid, subsp. Lochmias nematura, syn. Myiarchus tyrannulus cooperi, syn. Nyctidromus albicollis yucatanensis, subsp. Onychoprion anaethetus, syn. Phaethornis striigularis subrufescens, subsp. Polioptila caerulea, subsp. Quiscalus mexicanus, subsp. Sialia mexicana, subsp. Sitta carolinensis, subsp. Tunchiornis ochraceiceps, Vireo (ex Vireo nanus Nelson, 1898)).
• George Nelson (1876-1962) US botanist, zoologist, photographer, taxidermist at MCZ, Harvard College 1901-1946 (Martin Schneider in litt.) (subsp. Setophaga vitellina).

SUBSPECIES

Nelson's Sparrow (Interior)
SCI Name: Ammospiza nelsoni nelsoni/altera
AMMOSPIZA
(Passerellidae; † Saltmarsh Sparrow A. caudacuta) Gr. αμμος ammos  sand; σπιζα spiza  finch  < σπιζω spizō  to chirp; "Since the term Ammodramus Swainson belongs to Coturniculus, as already shown, another name is required for the group to which the former has been applied, and as there is none such available, it may be called Ammospiza, from αμ,μος [sic] harena, and σπιζα, fringilla,  with Oriolus caudacutus Gmelin as the type." (Oberholser 1905); "Ammospiza Oberholser, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 48, p. 68, May 13, 1905—new name for Ammodramus Swainson, Dec., 1827, preoccupied." (Hellmayr, 1938, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. XI, p. 504) (see Ammodramus).
Synon. Ammodramus, Passerina.

Nelson's Sparrow (Atlantic Coast)
SCI Name: Ammospiza nelsoni subvirgata
subvirgata / subvirgatus
L. sub  beneath, somewhat; virgatus  striped, streaked  < virga  stripe, streak.