[3][4] Based on the 2019 publication, in June 2020 the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) split R. dabbenei as the Yungas sparrow and renamed R. strigiceps sensu stricto as the Chaco sparrow.

The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) followed suit in January 2021.

Its upper parts are light brown with darker streaks and varying amounts of rust and gray.

This low elevation biome (up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)) is characterized by subtropical and tropical dry forests and shrubland.

[4] The IUCN has evaluated the Chaco sparrow sensu lato as of Least Concern.