Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis)

29 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica This is one of the most common and widespread of neotropical birds ranging from the mountains of southern Mexico all the way to Tierra del Fuego. In Costa Rica they nest throughout the year and we saw several juveniles begging from adults around the grounds of the lodge. Twenty-five (Byers et al.) to twenty-eight (Clements 6th) subspecies are currently recognized with the birds in Costa Rica and adjacent Panama assigned to Z. c. costaricensis. This is a well-marked rather dark race in which the black across the chest is extensive and often connects in the middle forming a "bow tie." In general the head becomes progressively grayer and less striped as you go south. The song is highly variable. The birds at Savegre sang a very different song from those we heard in Ecuador last summer. Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)