Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

OTHER NAMES: Andean Sparrow
Latin Etymology:  Zonotrichia ("band hair") capensis ("Cape of Good Hope" - erroneously)

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis
Weight: 20-25g  /  Length: 13.5-15cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distrubted new world sparrow whose range covers most of South America except much of the basins or the Amazon and Orinoco as well as upland pockets of Central America. They prefer highlands, hence the alternative name "Andean Sparrow" as they are found through much of that mountain range. However, despite that, the geographically isolated populations of Costa Rica and other Central American highlands are among the commest birds at their preferred altitudes.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Zonotrichia
SUBSPECIES: Z. c. septentrionalis, Z. c. antillarum, Z. c. costaricensis, Z. c. insularis, Z. c. venezuelae, Z. c. roraimae, Z. c. inaccessibilis, Z. c. perezchinchillorum, Z. c. macconelli, Z. c. capensis, Z. c. tocantinsi, Z. c. novaesi, Z. c. matutina, Z. c. huancabambae, Z. c. illescasensis, Z. c. peruviensis, Z. c. carabayae, Z. c. pulacayensis, Z. c. subtorquata, Z. c. mellea, Z. c. hypoleuca, Z. c. antofagastae, Z. c. chilensis, Z. c. sanborni, Z. c. arenalensis, Z. c. choraules, Z. c. australis

 

- Sighting Locations -
 
COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - comemaíz ("corn eater")
Locally common at higher altitudes
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto