Cabanis’s Ground Sparrow

Cabanis's ground sparrow (Melozone cabanisi) or the Costa Rican ground sparrow is a Near Threatened species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is endemic to Costa Rica. == Taxonomy and systematics == Cabanis's ground sparrow has a complicated taxonomic history. It was formally described by Philip Sclater and Osbert Salvin in 1868 with the binomial Pyrgisoma cabanisi. Some early twentieth century authors treated it as conspecific with the rusty-crowned ground sparrow (Melozone kieneri) and by late in the century most taxonomic systems treated it as a subspecies of Melozone biarcuata (Prevost's or white-faced ground sparrow). In 2012 the IOC again recognized it as a full species. Other systems slowly followed suit. Cabanis's ground sparrow is monotypic. == Description == Cabanis's ground sparrow is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a black forecrown. The rest of their crown and their ear coverts are chestnut or chestnut-rufous; the latter have a thin U-shaped black line around their bottom half. They have white lores, a white eye-ring, and white cheeks, chin, and throat with a thin black "moustache". Their back, scapulars, rump, uppertail coverts, wings, and tail are olive or…