Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

The rufous-collared sparrow or Andean sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is an American sparrow found in a wide range of habitats, often near humans, from the extreme south-east of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and in the Caribbean, only on the island of Hispaniola (in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti). It is famous for its diverse vocalizations, which have been intensely studied since the 1970s, particularly by Paul Handford and Stephen C. Lougheed (UWO), Fernando Nottebohm (Rockefeller University) and Pablo Luis Tubaro (UBA). Local names for this bird include the Portuguese tico-tico, the Spanish chingolo, chincol and copetón, "tufted" in Colombia and comemaíz "corn eater" in Costa Rica.