The Rufous-collared SparrowZonotrichia capensis, is an American sparrow found in a wide range of habitats, often near humans, from the extreme southeast of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego. It is famous for its diverse vocalizations, which have been intensely studied since the 1970s, particularly by Paul Handford and Stephen C. Lougheed and Pablo Luis Tubaro. Local names for this bird include the Portuese tico-tico and the Spanish chingolo and copetón(tufted) in Colombia.
This was the first bird I photographed in Costa Rica. It was on the steps as I went to our cottage at the La Paz Peace Lodge. They reappeared at most of the other lodges.