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The Rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is a bird found in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and 1 more countries. Almost everywhere from Mexico to the tip of South America, often near homes. It eats seeds and nuts, insects and other small invertebrates and leaves and other plant parts. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

🏡 Where the Rufous-collared sparrow lives

Almost everywhere from Mexico to the tip of South America, often near homes.

🍽️ What it eats

• 🌰 Seeds & nuts50%
• 🐛 Insects & bugs30%
• 🌿 Leaves & plants20%

A rough guide to its diet over a year. Source: EltonTraits (Wilman et al. 2014).

Conservation status

Hear the Rufous-collared sparrow

Recorded by Francisco Rivas Fuenzalida (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), xeno-canto XC1028948. Trimmed to a few seconds.

Questions about the Rufous-collared sparrow

Where does the Rufous-collared sparrow live?

The Rufous-collared sparrow lives in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and 1 more countries. Almost everywhere from Mexico to the tip of South America, often near homes.

What does the Rufous-collared sparrow eat?

seeds and nuts (about 50%), insects and other small invertebrates (about 30%), leaves and other plant parts (about 20%). These are rough shares of its diet over a year, from the EltonTraits database.

Is the Rufous-collared sparrow endangered?

There are plenty of these birds. Its IUCN Red List category is Least Concern.

More birds from South America

• Marañón spinetail
• Grey-bellied comet
• Orange-bellied antwren
• Long-tailed woodnymph
• Niceforo's wren
• Mangareva kingfisher

Sources: IUCN Red List (via Wikidata), EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014), GBIF sightings for countries, Wikipedia. Last updated 2026-10-19.