Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina (Sclater, PL, 1860)

10 cmLength11 gWeight

The variable seedeater (Sporophila corvina) is a passerine bird which breeds from southern Mexico through Central America to the Chocó of northwestern South America.

Busiest months: February–March · Most records: Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Variable Seedeater has been recorded at 279 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 10 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Arenal Observatory LodgeCosta Rica9,739 records
  2. Estación Biológica La Selva-OTSCosta Rica7,564 records
  3. Ammo Dump PondsPanama3,899 records
More places
  1. Rancho NaturalistaCosta Rica2,977 records
  2. Refugio mixto Caño NegroCosta Rica2,516 records
  3. Wilson Botanical GardenCosta Rica2,423 records
  4. Selva Verde LodgeCosta Rica2,170 records
  5. Gamboa Rainforest ReservePanama1,920 records
  6. Tranquilo Bay Eco-Adventure LodgePanama1,800 records
  7. Esquinas Rainforest LodgeCosta Rica1,724 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Costa RicaPanamaEcuadorBelizeColombiaNicaraguaHondurasMexico

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The variable seedeater (Sporophila corvina) is a passerine bird which breeds from southern Mexico through Central America to the Chocó of northwestern South America. The taxonomy is confusing, and it was formerly considered a subspecies of Sporophila americana (see Taxonomy). Even within the variable seedeater as presently defined, there are great variations in plumage.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Variable Seedeater?

The Variable Seedeater is about 10 cm long and weighs around 11 g.

Where does the Variable Seedeater live?

Its breeding range: Middle America, South America: eastern Mexico to Peru. It is most often recorded in Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador.

When is the best time to see the Variable Seedeater?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February and March (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Variable Seedeater endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Variable Seedeater as Least Concern.

What does the Variable Seedeater eat?

Main food: Seeds.

What family is the Variable Seedeater in?

It belongs to the family Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
10 cm
Weight
11 g
Habitat
Towns & farmland
Diet
Seeds
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
53 mm
Tail
43 mm
Bill
11 mm
Tarsus
17 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Middle America, South America: eastern Mexico to Peru

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Tanagers & Allies Thraupidae
Genus
Sporophila

Other birds in the genus Sporophila

Lesson's SeedeaterLesson's SeedeaterSporophila bouvronidesLined SeedeaterLined SeedeaterSporophila lineolaCinnamon-rumped SeedeaterCinnamon-rumped SeedeaterSporophila torqueolaMorelet's SeedeaterMorelet's SeedeaterSporophila morelletiGrey SeedeaterGrey SeedeaterSporophila intermediaWing-barred SeedeaterWing-barred SeedeaterSporophila americanaWhite-naped SeedeaterWhite-naped SeedeaterSporophila fringilloidesBlack-and-white SeedeaterBlack-and-white SeedeaterSporophila luctuosaDouble-collared SeedeaterDouble-collared SeedeaterSporophila caerulescensYellow-bellied SeedeaterYellow-bellied SeedeaterSporophila nigricollisDubois's SeedeaterDubois's SeedeaterSporophila ardesiacaThick-billed Seed FinchThick-billed Seed FinchSporophila funerea
Variable Seedeater

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Rolando Chavez. ↗

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