Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis)

29 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica Here is another image of this common species showing the black "bow-tie" characteristic of Z. c. costaricensis. The dark line down the middle of the breast is a parting of the feathers, not an actual plumage feature. We often saw these birds foraging on the ground or singing from a low perch. Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)