Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow (Melozone cabanisi); Pinzón cafetalero; Tohi de Cabanis; Rotohr-Grundammer

For some years now Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow has had full species status, having been formerly classified as a sub-species of Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow. Both Prévost and Cabanis were notable 19th century ornithologists. I must say that I prefer the Spanish and German names, which indicate respectively its habitat (Spanish: coffee-field finch) and its appearance (German: ‘red-eared bunting’).

Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow is an endemic species which is considered to be near-threatened primarily because of habitat destruction caused by urban development, but also because it’s found exclusively in Costa Rica and then only in a very restricted range. There are many reports from our local area, where it is often found in coffee fields. Those at nearby Aquiares are within an easy walk of friend Larry Waddell’s house, hence this very recent photo:

Plumage is identical in both sexes but the individual above, pictured bathing, is perhaps a juvenile. Adult plumage is generally brighter, as can be appreciated in the following file photo where the rather striking head markings are much clearer; underparts show as chiefly white:

The following image shows a close-up front view prominently featuring the bill of this member of the finch family:

The extensive coffee fields of Aquiares are one prime location for the species in our area. John and Milena also live not too far away, but it was nonetheless a huge surprise when in September 2023 they discovered that an obviously immature bird had somehow found its way into their house. No, they do not live in a coffee field!

After eviction from the house, the bird posed on their veranda for the following photo:

Immature Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow: lacking the distinctive features of adult plumage. Photo by John Beer.

Since Larry has encountered the species with some regularity, he had not initially realized that it is actually one of the world’s species most sought-after by ‘twitchers’ – the term used in Britain for those fanatics amongst us who rush to places far and wide in order to add another bird species to their lists.

And here’s a very nice parting shot from Larry in Aquiares just last year:

Having now added Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow to your list, be sure to keep a look-out for the previously mentioned White-eared Ground-Sparrow, the only other Melozone species in Costa Rica. If kind friends can continue to come up with the respective photographs, I hope to feature it in a future post.