Sporophila nigrorufa
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater (Sporophila nigrorufa) is a striking, small passerine bird, typically measuring around 10 cm in length and weighing 8-10 grams. Males are instantly recognizable by their glossy black upperparts, head, throat, and upper breast, which dramatically contrast with a rich, rufous (tawny) belly, flanks, and undertail coverts, often featuring a distinct white patch on the primaries visible in flight. Females, in stark contrast, are much duller, exhibiting an olive-brown ...
Primarily inhabits open grasslands, savannas, and pastures, frequently found near marshes or seasonally flooded areas, typically at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on small grass seeds, which it extracts using its stout, conical bill. Insects are occasionally consumed, particularly during the breeding season to provide protein for growing chicks.
Active during daylight hours, Black-and-tawny Seedeaters are often seen perching conspicuously on tall grasses or low shrubs, though their cryptic females are much harder to spot. Outside the breeding season, they may form small, loose flocks, occasionally mixing with other seedeater species, and...
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater is endemic to a restricted portion of central South America. Its primary breeding range encompasses significant areas of Brazil, specifically across the states of Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Rondônia, Piauí, western Bahia, and Tocantins. Beyond Brazil, scattere...
Vulnerable
- Its scientific name, *nigrorufa*, is Latin for 'black-red,' a perfect description of the male's striking two-toned plumage. - The Black-and-tawny Seedeater was formally described relatively late in ornithological history, in 1870, despite its distinct appearance. - Even with the male's vibrant ...