Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Handsomely patterned sparrow from highlands of Chiapas south to temperate South America. Occurs in open and semiopen habitats such as villages, towns, and farmland with hedges and brushy thickets. Feeds on the ground and in bushes, at times in flocks. Note the peaked crown, bold black-and-gray head pattern (though black much reduced in southern populations), bright rusty collar, and black chest patch. Juvenile has ghosting of adult pattern and breast is streaked dusky.
Identification
The rufous-collared sparrow is .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}13.5–15 cm (5+1⁄4–6 in) long and weighs 20–25 g (0.71–0.88 oz). 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 upperparts 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.<p>Young birds have a duller, indistinct head pattern, with brown stripes and a buff ground colour. They lack the rufous collar and have streaked underparts.<p>There are between 25 and 29 subspecies. In general, the smaller forms occur in coastal mountains, intermediate birds in the Andes, and large, darker, forms breed on the tepuis. The largest of the tepui subspecies, Z. c. perezchincillae, has grey underparts, and the rufous collar extends as a black band of freckles across the breast. This form might be separable as a distinct species, or it might just be a particularly distinct population due to genetic bottleneck effects.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Zonotrichia capensis
- Authority
- (Müller, PLS, 1776)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Zonotrichia
Range and habitat
In the northern and western parts of its range, this generally abundant bird is typically found at altitudes of 600–4,000 m (2,000–13,100 ft), but in the southern and eastern parts, it is commonly found down to near sea level. It can be seen in virtually any open or semi-open habitat, including cultivations, gardens, parks, grasslands, and scrubby second growth or cerrado. It copes well with urban and suburban environments but is absent from the densely forested sections of the Amazon Basin.<p>It is also scarce on the Guiana Shield, occurring mainly on some tepuis and in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana.<p>The species was likely more widespread across the Caribbean region during the much cooler climes of the last glacial period, but was left marooned in the highest Hispaniolan mountains (the highest in the Caribbean) once warming began. This pattern is mirrored in the population of the Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga), a sympatric bird. However, it is also known to exist in Aruba and some other Caribbean islands.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Green Warbler-Finch
Certhidea olivacea
Small, slender-billed Galápagos finch. Best identified by its thin bill, brownish-gray plumage, and the island on which it is seen. Male sometimes has a faint, orange wash on throat and face. Inhabits the central and western islands of Santa Cruz, Baltra, Santiago, Rábida, Pinzón, Isabela, and Fernandina. Not found together with the very similar Gray Warbler-Finch. Might be mistaken for a young female Yellow Warbler (some of which show only a trace of yellow), but note more finch-like bill and shorter tail. Lives in a variety of wooded habitats, but most common in humid highland forest.
Rand's Warbler
Randia pseudozosterops
Plain, warbler-like tetraka with a bold white eye-stripe. Madagascar endemic that is found in low and middle-elevation rainforest. Feeds in the mid-story and canopy, and sings from an exposed perch, often alongside a Stripe-throated Jery. Song is a loose, decelerating trill. Similar to Cryptic Warbler, but eye-stripe is bolder, and color of the upperparts is gray. Larger than jeries, with gray upperparts, and no streaks on the throat. Much paler than Wedge-tailed Tetraka, with a white eye-stripe rather than a gray ear patch.
Reischek's Parakeet
Cyanoramphus hochstetteri
A medium-sized, emerald-green parakeet endemic to the Antipodes Islands, including smaller outer islands. Recognized by its distinctive bright red crown and small red patches behind the eyes. Green body plumage has a slight yellowish tint. Males are larger than females. Most commonly found in areas of low vegetation and open areas along the coast. Forms small flocks in autumn and winter. Calls are a distinctive parakeet chatter. Distinguished from Red-crowned Parakeet by lack of range overlap and the more yellow-green body plumage. Easily distinguished from larger, all-green Antipodes Island Parakeet.
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