Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis

Identification & Behavior: ~14 cm (5.5 in). The Rufous-collared Sparrow is gray-brown with dusky streaks on the upperparts.  The underparts are pale grayish. The head is bluish-gray with black stripes. It has rufous on the sides and back of the neck.  Juvenile birds have a dull plumage version of the adult and have underparts streaked with dusky. It is similar to the Tumbes Sparrow but is distinguished by having black head stripes and rufous on the neck.

Status: The Rufous-collared Sparrow is common and widespread in the western lowlands, west and east slopes of the Andes and inter-Andean valleys. It generally ranges high on the east slope of the Andes but occurs on the lowlands in the Huallaga Valley. The Rufous-collared Sparrow also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Gorrión de Collar Rufo.

Sub-species: Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis markli), Koepcke, 1971.
(Z. c. illescasensis), Koepcke, 1963.  Cerro Illescas (Piura), in NW Peru.
(Z. c. huancabambae), Chapman, 1940.   Arid subtropics of N & C Peru (Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas and San Martín S to Junín).
(Z. c. peruviensis), (Lesson), 1834.  Arid coastal Peru from La Libertad S to Tacna, and inland on W slope of Andes.
(Z. c. carabayae), Chapman, 1940.  E slope of Andes from C Peru (Junín) S to Bolivia (La Paz and Cochabamba).

Meaning of Name: Zonotrichia: Gr. zone= band and thrix, trikhos= hair. capensis: After Cape of Good Hope, Cayenne.

See more of the Family Passerellidae