Brewer’s Sparrow
We are beginning to collect samples to build a genoscape for Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) across its breeding range. For our first step, however, we are working with Dr. Brett Walker of Colorado Parks & Wildlife to construct a genoscape for the species in western Colorado. Preliminary analysis of mitochondrial haplotypes suggest that alpine Brewer’s Sparrows in Colorado are the subspecies breweri rather than the subspecies taverneri. Our genoscape will help determine if alpine Brewer’s Sparrows are: 1) Part of a larger panmictic population of breweri that just happen to breed in atypical habitat, 2) Itinerant breeders (i.e., birds that first breed in sagebrush, then move up to alpine sites to re-nest), or 3) A genetically and demographically distinct subpopulation within breweri.
If you are interested in collecting or donating Brewer’s Sparrow samples from any location across its range, particularly during the breeding and wintering seasons, please contact Amanda Carpenter to learn more!