Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
These sparrows sing in distinct regional dialects; a bird from the high Andes sings a noticeably different tune than one from the coastal lowlands.
- Scientific name
- Zonotrichia capensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Passerellidae › Zonotrichia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Grasslands, scrublands, agricultural fields, suburban gardens, and forest edges.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; primarily feeds on seeds, fallen grain, and small insects.
- Range
- South America, Central America, Hispaniola
- Size
- 13-15 cm in length, weighing 20-25 grams
- Lifespan
- 3 to 5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Urban sprawl, outdoor domestic cats, and agricultural pesticide exposure.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless and highly habituated to humans. You can safely observe them at close range in parks and gardens. If you find an injured bird, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator; if you find a fledgling on the ground, leave it be as its parents are likely nearby.
The rufous-collared sparrow or Andean sparrow ( Zonotrichia capensis ) is an American sparrow found in a wide range of habitats, often near humans, from the extreme south-east of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on the island of Hispaniola. It is famous for its diverse vocalizations, which have been intensely studied since the 1970s, particularly by Paul Handford and Stephen C. Lougheed (UWO), Fernando Nottebohm (Rockefeller University) and Pablo Luis Tubaro (UBA). Local names for this bird...
Photo: Esteban Poveda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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