Seaside Sparrow

SCI Name:  Ammospiza maritima
Protonym:  Fringilla maritima Am.Orn. 4 p.68 pl.34 fig.2
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Passerellidae / Ammospiza
Taxonomy Code:  seaspa
Type Locality:  sea islands along our Atlantic coast ; restricted to Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey, by Oberholser, 1931, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 44, p. 124.
Author:  Wilson, A
Publish Year:  1811
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.

maritima / maritimus
L. maritimus  maritime, of the sea  < mare, maris  sea.
● "Of this bird I can find no description. It inhabits the low, rush-covered islands along our Atlantic coast, where I first found it" (A. Wilson 1811) (Ammodramus).

SUBSPECIES

Seaside Sparrow (Atlantic)
SCI Name: Ammospiza maritima maritima/macgillivraii
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.

Seaside Sparrow (Dusky)
SCI Name: Ammospiza maritima nigrescens
nigrescens
L. nigrescens, nigrescentis  blackish  < nigrescere  to become black  < niger  black.

Seaside Sparrow (Gulf of Mexico)
SCI Name: Ammospiza maritima [sennetti Group]
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.

Seaside Sparrow (Cape Sable)
SCI Name: Ammospiza maritima mirabilis
mirabilis
L. mirabilis marvellous < mirari to admire < mirus wonderful, astonishing.
● ex “Poephile admirable” of Hombron & Jacquinot 1842 (syn. Chloebia gouldiae).
● ex “Parkinson” of Audebert & Vieillot 1802 (syn. Menura novaehollandiae).