Black-capped Sparrow (Arremon abeillei) [XC704614]
by Jerome Fischer from Jorupe NR, Loja, Ecuador (call)
Black-capped Sparrow (Arremon abeillei) [XC259928]
by Mitch Lysinger from Loja: Macar\u00e1-Zapotillo road, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Has been suggested as forming a superspecies with Pectoral Sparrow (Arremon taciturnus), Saffron-billed Sparrow (Arremon flavirostris), Orange-billed Sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) and Golden-winged Sparrow (Arremon schlegeli). Distinctive subspecies nigriceps possibly merits elevation to full species rank. Further study is required.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
abeillei Lesson, 1844 - South-western Ecuador (from Manabí) southern on Pacific slope to north-western Peru (south to Cajamarca).
nigriceps Taczanowski, 1880 - Upper Marañón Valley in eastern Cajamarca, in north-western Peru. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Maranon Sparrow (Arremon nigriceps).