Rufous collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

Rufous-collared Sparrow

[order] Passeriformes | [family] Emberizidae | [latin] Zonotrichia capensis | [UK] Rufous-collared Sparrow | [FR] Bruant chingolo | [DE] Morgenammer | [ES] Chingolo Comun | [IT] Passero dal collare rossiccio | [NL] Roodkraaggors

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range
Zonotrichia capensis LA s Mexico to s Argentina, also Hispaniola
Zonotrichia capensis antillarum
Zonotrichia capensis antofagastae
Zonotrichia capensis arenalensis
Zonotrichia capensis australis
Zonotrichia capensis bonnetiana
Zonotrichia capensis capensis
Zonotrichia capensis carabayae
Zonotrichia capensis chilensis
Zonotrichia capensis choraules
Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis
Zonotrichia capensis huancabambae
Zonotrichia capensis hypoleuca
Zonotrichia capensis illescasensis
Zonotrichia capensis inaccessibilis
Zonotrichia capensis insularis
Zonotrichia capensis macconnelli
Zonotrichia capensis markli
Zonotrichia capensis matutina
Zonotrichia capensis novaesi
Zonotrichia capensis orestera
Zonotrichia capensis perezchinchillorum
Zonotrichia capensis peruviensis
Zonotrichia capensis pulacayensis
Zonotrichia capensis roraimae
Zonotrichia capensis sanborni
Zonotrichia capensis septentrionalis
Zonotrichia capensis subtorquata
Zonotrichia capensis tocantinsi
Zonotrichia capensis venezuelae

Physical charateristics

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is 13.5-15 cm long and weighs 20-25 g. The adult has a stubby grey bill and a grey head with broad black stripes on the crown sides and thinner stripes through the eye and below the cheeks. The nape and breast sides are rufous and the upperpart are black-streaked buff-brown. There are two white wing bars. The throat is white, and the underparts are off-white, becoming brown on the flanks and with a black breast patch.

Listen to the sound of Rufous-collared Sparrow

[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/R/Rufous-collared Sparrow.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 15 cm size max.: 16 cm
incubation min.: 12 days incubation max.: 14 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 1   eggs min.: 2  
      eggs max.: 3  

Range

It breeds in highlands from the extreme southeast of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on Hispaniola.

Habitat

This abundant bird is found typically at altitudes between 600 and 4000m, locally lower, in open areas including cultivation, gardens, parks and scrubby second growth. It copes well with urban and suburban environments, but is absent from the Amazon basin.

Reproduction

The nest, built by the female, is a cup of plant material lined with fine grasses. It is constructed in matted vegetation on the ground, low in a tree or bush, or in a niche in a wall. The female lays two or three brown-blotched greenish-blue eggs, which she incubates for 12-14 days. The male helps in feeding the chicks. Its chicks frequently fall victim to the parasitic young of the gauderio. The Rufous-collared Sparrow is considered the main host of that species.

Feeding habits

The Rufous-collared Sparrow feeds on the ground on seeds, fallen grain, insects and spiders. It is usually in pairs which hold small territories or in small flocks.

Conservation

This species has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 11,000,000 km². The global population size has not been quantified, but it is believed to be large as the species is described as ‘common’ in at least parts of its range (Stotz et al. 1996). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e., declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Rufous-collared Sparrow status Least Concern

Migration

Sedentary in South America

Distribution map

Rufous-collared Sparrow range map

Literature

Title THE RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW AS A HOST OF THE SHINY COWBIRD
Author(s): ROSENDO M. FRAGA
Abstract: The Rufous-collared Sparrow or Chingolo (Zonotrich..[more]..
Source: Wilson Bull., 90(2), 1978, pp. 271-284

download full text (pdf)

Title DIFFERENCES IN SINGING BEHAVIOR BETWEEN RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROWS IN COSTA RICA AND NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA
Author(s): JAMES R . FOTHEIUNGHAM
Abstract: The Rufous-collaredS parrow (Zonotrichia capensisi..[more]..
Source: The Condor 97: 821-826

download full text (pdf)

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