Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Overview

The yellow-bellied seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis) is a small tanager species found across Central and South America. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an extremely large range and an estimated population of at least five million mature individuals.

Identification

• Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a black head and nape, dull olive upperparts, and pale yellowish underparts with dark blurry spots on the flanks.
• Females are uniformly warm buffy brown with paler buff bellies and vents.
• Measures 8.5 to 10.3 cm in length with a short, thick bill; males have a blue-grey bill while females have a blackish one.
• Song described as a short, musical series of slurred whistles such as "tsu tsu tsu chew-see'see-sa-héet", or variable phrases ending with buzzier notes.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits grassy landscapes, including open grasslands, forest clearings, fallow agricultural land, and weedy old pastures. It ranges from Costa Rica through Panama, the Lesser Antilles, and most South American countries, reaching elevations up to 2,600 m.

Diet

Feeds almost entirely on grass seeds, plucking them while sitting on seed heads or by bending stalks to the ground. Usually forages in pairs during the breeding season but may form flocks exceeding 20 individuals in winter.

Did you know?

The species is significant in the illegal pet trade, with an estimated 16,800 individuals caught and sold annually in Brazil alone.