The Rufous-collared Sparrow ranges from southern Mexico to the southern tip of South America and uses open habitats from grasslands and high plateaus to rural and urban areas. Behavior varies among subspecies.
A pale brown crown stripe is bordered by black stripes, and the back and wings are brown with black streaks.
It commonly eats seeds and also takes insects when they are plentiful. Some subspecies migrate, while others remain in the same area.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.