Wing-barred Seedeater

Taxobox
name = Wing-barred Seedeater


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Thraupidae
genus = "Sporophila"
species = "S. americana"
binomial = "Sporophila americana"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1789)
synonyms =

The Wing-barred Seedeater ("Sporophila americana") is a passerine bird from coastal regions of north-eastern South America in north-eastern Venezuela, the Guianas, Amapá and north-eastern Pará (with a single record from Maranhão), Brazil, and along the Amazon River upstream to around Manaus. Formerly, it included the mainly Central American "Sporophila corvina" and the west Amazonian "S. murallae" as subspecies, in which case the combined species had the common name Variable Seedeater. Following the split, this common name is now restricted to "S. corvina".

Description

It has a total length of approxomately 11 cm (4½ in). Adult males have a relatively heavy black bill. The upperparts are black, except for a greyish rump (actually white finely streaked black, but only visible up-close) and two distinct white wing-bars (the lower often reduced). The underparts are white, except for a broad black pectoral collar (sometimes reduced and incomplete) and blackish mottling to the upper flanks. The far duller female has a brownish bill, dull buffy-olive upperparts and pale olive-ochre underparts. Juveniles resemble adult females.

Ecology

Found in open or semi-open grassy areas and shrub. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks. As other "Sporophila" seedeaters, it mainly feeds on seeds, but has also been observed taking flowers, buds and fruits.

It was only recently accepted as a species distinct from "S. murallae" by the South American Classification Committee, and the two have therefore only been been rated by BirdLife International as a combined species, in which case it is regarded to be of Least Concern. Following the recognition as a separate species, its status is currently being discussed, with Least Concern suggested as still being the appropriate status for this species. It remains common in Suriname, French Guiana and parts of Brazil, but is threatened by trapping for the wild bird trade in Venezuela and Guyana.

References

* BirdLife International 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/53996/summ Sporophila americana] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.] Downloaded on 29 November 2007.
* (2003): "Birds of Venezuela". Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
* (2006). "Birds of Northern South America". Vol. 1 & 2. Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-7242-0 (vol. 1); ISBN 0-7136-7243-9 (vol. 2).
* (2001). "The Birds of Ecuador - Field Guide". Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-8721-8
* (1996): "When black plus white equals gray: The Nature of variation in the Variable Seedeater complex (Emberizinae: Sporophila)." Ornitologia Neotropical 7 (2): 75-107.
* (1989): "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica". Comistock, Ithaca. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
* (2004): "First record of the Variable Seedeater (Sporophila americana) for the state of Maranhão, Brazil." Ararajuba 12(2): 145.
* [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop287.html Recognize four species of Sporophila within the Sporophila americana superspecies] - South American Classification Committee.
* [http://metropolis229.webcrossing.com/WebX/.2cba5bf7 Wing-barred Seedeater (Sporophila americana): newly split and Least Concern?] BirdLife International Forum.

External links

* [http://mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec202-102.html Photo gallery] - Mangoverde.
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/species_image.php?species=Sporophila+corvina Photo of male] (listed as "Sporophila corvina [sic] ") - VIREO
* [http://www.tem.nhl.nl/~ribot/english/spam_ng.htm Photos and text] (listed as Variable Seedeater " [sic] ") - Bird in Suriname.