For what it's worth, Rufous-collared Sparrows are quite common in captivity. I have seen them numerous times in cages in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico, including at markets in Oaxaca and in the city of Veracruz far from where this species is found in the wild. This is a bird that is often found very close to human habitation in cities and does not move any great distance. I am not aware of any records west or north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec that are presumed to be wild birds.
There is a fair amount of geographic variation in the species, so assuming it is a Rufous-collared Sparrow, it may be interesting to note which subspecies (though I doubt that would do much to suggest it is a wild bird). Best, Chris Wood eBird & Neotropical Birds Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 12:21 PM, Joe Roller <[email protected]> wrote: > This note was forwarded to me by Veronica Holt > > from a reliable birder. > > The description is good for this SOUTH AMERICAN BIRD. > > There is a recording I have not heard, but no photos. > > It is not kept in cages that I know of. I am > > going up there now. > > Cell 303 204-0828. > > Call me if you go, when you get to Georgetown. > > Joe Roller > > PS This is not a joke. This is the news as I heard it. > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 10:40 PM > To: [email protected] > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Rufous-collared Sparrow sighting, Georgetown > > > > Hi Veronica, > > > > Here are some details about the bird. We saw it at around 10:30 this > morning in Georgetown (off I-70, on the way up to Loveland Pass), at the > corner of Rose St. and 8th Street. We were first alerted to its presence by > its singing, which reminded me of Golden-crowned Sparrow. As we were > tracking it down I remarked to Tim that what it really sounded like was > Rufous-collared Sparrow, which I am familiar with from trips to Costa Rica > and a trip last fall to Ecuador. Imagine our surprise though when that's > what it turned out to be! > > > > We watched it sing near the top of a poplar tree in a yard (beside the old > brick Conoco gas station) for a couple of minutes then I went back the car > to get my camera. When I got back it had moved further back into the yard > and we couldn't get a photo. For the next 45 minutes or so it moved around > a small area bounded by 8th St. and 7th St., Griffith St. and Rose St. > During this time it was singing often but we only caught sight of it > briefly. Eventually it stopped singing and after a while longer we left to > try for ptarmigan up at Loveland Pass. We stopped back in on the way > down from around 2:30-3:30 and heard it sing twice in the same area but > again, could not see it. > > > > Now to the bird itself. It was sparrow size and shape, although it seemed > somewhat delicate and not as large as say a White-crowned or White-throat. > It was brown and streaked on the back and light and unmarked on the breast > (I can't say whether it was white or grey, perhaps Tim noticed). The face > was grey (background color) with a strong face pattern (black or dark > brown), although I can't say from memory exactly where the markings were. > There was a very obvious dark crest. The back of the neck was rufous and > this seemed to extend around to the 'shoulders' if you will. There was a > black or dark brown collar that extended out on to the throat or upper > breast of the bird but did not join in the middle. The throat was whitish. > I didn't really notice anything about the wings or tail. > > > > The song was usually a three note or sometimes two-note whistle, a very pure > sound, with the last note lower than the first. I have a brief recording. > I never heard any call notes from it, or at least I wasn't aware of any. > > > > Between the song and the excellent looks we had of it before I got the > camera out there is little doubt in my mind that it is a Rufous-collared > Sparrow. However, we were not very successful at getting documentation so I > am hoping that we can get some other people up there soon to look for it. > We will probably be stopping in on our way across the state tomorrow > afternoon but my guess is that a morning visit might have more success. > > > > If anyone needs some more directions or details tomorrow you can try Tim's > cell (303) 504-7059 or my cell (204) 996-0808. > > > > Good luck to any who go looking for it, let us know what they come up with. > > > > Andrew Davis > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
