Multimedia Gallery
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
A Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) from Curacao, an island in the Dutch Antilles off the coast of Venezuela.
Z. capensis breeds in the highlands, from the extreme southeast of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on Hispaniola. They feed off of the ground and their diet consists of seeds, fallen grain, insects and spiders. Their nest, which is built by the female, is a cup of plant material lined with fine grasses. It is usually built on the ground or low in a tree or bush. Females lay two or three brown-blotched, greenish-blue eggs, which are incubated for 12 to 14 days. Males assist in feeding the chicks. Z. capensis reach about 13.5 to 15 centimeters in length and weigh between 20 and 25 grams. One of the more interesting characteristics about this sparrow species is its diverse vocalization, which has been the subject of scientific study over the past few decades. [Note: Permission has been granted to include this image in the National Science Foundation Multimedia Gallery. See "Restrictions," below, regarding further use of this image.] (Date of Image: 2006)
Credit: ©R. Hays Cummins, Miami University
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