Urbanization is one of the main drivers of global biodiversity loss, primarily through land-use changes associated with human activity. These changes may filter bird species based on their adaptability, as traits such as acoustic communication can be influenced by urban structure. In this context, the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis (AAH) proposes that the structure of the biophysical environment shapes the acoustic properties of signals to maximize their transmission. Consequently, altered conditions in urban settings (e.g., increased noise, reduced vegetation cover, and changes in microclimatic conditions) could promote variation in bird song. This study focused on elucidating how the characteristics of Bogotá—one of the most urbanized and noisiest cities in Latin America—might influence the song of the Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), a common urban bird species. To this end, we recorded songs in the field and incorporated community science data to complement our sampling. Additionally, we collected information on noise levels, humidity, temperature, and the extent of built-up and vegetated areas, and related such variables to patterns of variation in song. Our results show high vocal diversity among individual repertoires, with divergence occurring at the individual level and no clear spatial pattern of variation across the city. Moreover, given the weak associations with the environmental factors analyzed and the proportion of unexplained variance in the models employed, we suggest that other, yet unidentified, mechanisms may play an important role in modulating the song of this species in Bogota.
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