 Local names for this bird include the Portuguese tico-tico, the Spanish chingolo, chincol and copetón, "tufted" in Colombia and comemaíz "corn eater" in Costa Rica.The rufous-collared sparrow is long and weighs .The adult has a stubby grey bill, and a grey head with broad black stripes on the crown sides, and thinner stripes through the eye and below the cheeks.