Cabanis's ground sparrow or the Costa Rican ground sparrow, is a bird species of the Passerellidae family. It previously was considered a subspecies of the Prevost's ground sparrow.
Region
Central America
Typical Environment
Occurs mainly in Costa Rica’s Central Valley and adjacent Pacific-slope foothills where brushy edges, second-growth thickets, and overgrown coffee plantations persist. It favors dense low vegetation, hedgerows, and streamside scrub near farmland and suburban fringes. The species keeps close to cover, using tangles and weedy patches for foraging and shelter. Habitat loss and fragmentation within the urbanizing Central Valley now constrain its range.
Altitude Range
600–1700 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the Costa Rican ground sparrow, this species is endemic to Costa Rica’s Central Valley and nearby foothills. It was recently split from Prevost's ground sparrow and is now recognized as a distinct species. Urban expansion and agricultural changes have reduced its scrubby habitat, contributing to its threatened status. It often frequents coffee plantations and hedgerows where dense cover remains.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, usually low and between patches of cover
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Nests are placed low in dense vegetation or thickets, with both parents involved in care. Territorial during the breeding season, they keep to well-covered edges and avoid open areas.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, thin whistles interspersed with soft trills. Calls include sharp metallic chips given from cover. Vocalizations can be subdued and may be heard more often at dawn and dusk.
Plumage
Striking white face framed by bold black lateral stripes and malar lines, with olive-brown upperparts and grayish underparts bearing a noticeable dark central breast spot. Crown shows rufous to brown tones, and the tail is relatively long and dark. Overall pattern is crisp and high-contrast on the head with more subdued, earthy tones on the body.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of grass and weed seeds, small fruits, and a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and spiders. Forages primarily on or near the ground, scratching through leaf litter and probing among roots and fallen debris. Will also glean along hedgerows and in weedy field margins.
Preferred Environment
Dense undergrowth, brushy edges, coffee plantations with shade trees, and streamside thickets. Often forages where cover is continuous, such as overgrown fences and hedgerows near agricultural plots.
