Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 2,499 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation through drainage and dry-season burning, and disturbance through tourism, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
In pairs or groups of three, but are occasionally in larger groups of 10-12.
Food
In the dry season primarily on seeds and flowers. Also insects, spiders, snails and their eggs and even small lizards in the wet season.
Voice
Call is a short, metallic high-pitched trill at intervals 'tziii-tzziii-tzziii...' and a quiet 'tic-tic-tic'. In the breeding season, a rasping series of long, high-pitched notes 'tzi, tzi, tziii-tzzii, zu, zu, zu...' ending on a deeper note. Pairs duet.
Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata) [XC209395]
by Hans Matheve from La Turba, Cienaga Zapata, Matanzas, Cuba (call, song)
Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata) [XC574064]
by Desmond Allen from Cienaga de Zapata, Matanzas, Cuba (call)
Subspecies
Relationships of this species unclear. Thought to be close to Aimophila or possibly to Peucaea (latter previously subsumed in Aimophila) because of general structure and skeletal data, but differs clearly in plumage.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
inexpectata Barbour & Peters, 1927 - Zapata Swamp, in western Cuba.
varonai Regalado Ruiz, 1981 - Cayo Coco, off north-central Cuba.
sigmani Spence, MJ & Smith, BL, 1961 - Coastal regions of province of Guantánamo, in south-eastern Cuba.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet