Half-collared Sparrow

Overview

The half-collared sparrow is a species of New World sparrow endemic to Brazil. It was long treated as a subspecies of the pectoral sparrow but was elevated to full species status in the early 2000s.

Identification

• Approximately 15 cm long with an orange to orange-pink mandible and grayish pink legs.
• Males feature a black crown with a gray stripe, black lores, and a white supercilium extending to the nape.
• Upperparts are greenish olive, contrasting with white underparts that include a black patch on the side of the upper breast.
• Vocalisations include descending series of whistles described as 'tzee–tzeuuu-tsééúúúú' and a metallic 'sharp ringing tiip'.

Habitat

Found in southeastern Brazil from Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo south to northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, primarily in the understory of humid montane and secondary forests. It also occurs in shrubby fields and gardens, reaching elevations of 1,200 m but seldom found in lowlands.

Diet

The diet is assumed to consist of insects, seeds, and fruits, though it has not been formally studied. The bird forages on the ground by scratching in leaf litter or near the ground in low vegetation, usually alone but occasionally in pairs or small family groups.

Did you know?

Its nest is constructed as a bulky ball of dry grass, twigs, and dry leaves, typically placed on the ground or just above it in a shrub. The clutch consists of two eggs that are whitish with brownish markings.