Characteristics of nesting areas used by San Clemente Island Sage Sparrows

I examined the nest habitat used by Sage Sparrows (Amphispiza belli clementeae) on San Clemente Island, one of the California Channel Islands, during March through June 1986. All nests were found in boxthorn shrubs in coastal scrub habitat. The cover of vegetation was greater and more evenly distributed at nest sites than in surrounding habitat. Nests were placed most often on the leeward side of live boxthorn shrubs interspersed by cactus.