Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis

Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis. Photograph taken in the coastal region of Guatemala, March 2020. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis, is a member of the Passerellidae Family of New World Sparrows. They are small in stature. In Mexico they are found within the Atlantic slope of the state of Chiapas. From a conservation perspective the Rufous-collared Sparrow is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are found in open spaces along roadsides, in parks and near dwellings, in cleared areas and in thickets. Their primary diet is plant material, including fruits and seeds, supplemented with insects.