Sporophila ardesiaca
The Dubois's Seedeater (*Sporophila ardesiaca*) is a captivating, small passerine endemic to southeastern Brazil, immediately recognizable by its striking sexual dimorphism. Males boast a distinctive slate-gray plumage on their upperparts, sharply contrasting with black underparts, a black bill, and often subtle white undertail coverts. Females, in contrast, exhibit a more cryptic, uniform brownish-olive above and paler yellowish-buff below, typical of many *Sporophila* females, making identi...
This seedeater primarily inhabits humid grasslands, open savannas, pastures, and agricultural fields, often favoring areas with scattered shrubs and forest edges. It is typically found at lower to mid-elevations, generally below 1,200 meters (3,900 feet).
The primary diet of Dubois's Seedeaters consists of small grass seeds, supplemented by some insects, particularly during the breeding season. They forage by gleaning seeds directly from the seed heads of various grasses and herbaceous plants.
Dubois's Seedeaters are generally diurnal, foraging actively during the day and roosting communally or solitarily in dense vegetation at night. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning seeds from grasses and low herbaceous plants, often clinging to stems to access ripened seed heads. D...
The Dubois's Seedeater is strictly endemic to southeastern Brazil, with its distribution centered within the Atlantic Forest biome. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends through the states of Espírito Santo, eastern Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and ...
Near Threatened
- The male Dubois's Seedeater's striking slate-gray and black plumage makes it one of the most distinctly marked among the many *Sporophila* seedeaters. - Despite its beauty, the species is classified as Near Threatened, largely due to illegal trapping for the pet trade, which is a significant th...