The collared towhee (Pipilo ocai) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae that is endemic to Mexico.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist pine-oak montane forest and heavily degraded former forest.

It occupies mountainous terrain from about 1,500 to 3,500 m (4,900 to 11,500 ft).

In terms of weight, and standard bill and tarsal measurements, this is the largest species of emberizid overall, although related species, including Abert's, canyon and California towhees, outrank the collared towhee in overall length, as well as tail and wing length.

[2][3] In the collared towhee, the chestnut cap, yellowish green upperparts, black cheek and breast band, gray flanks, and white chin are curiously similar to that of the chestnut-capped brush finch, but note the latter's thinner breast band and more golden (not whitish) supercilium.