Sporophila pileata
The Pearly-bellied Seedeater (*Sporophila pileata*) is a diminutive yet striking passerine bird, renowned for the male's elegant contrast of glossy black and pristine white plumage. Measuring approximately 9-10.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 7.5-9.5 grams, adult males sport a distinctive black cap extending to the nape, black upperparts, a conspicuous white speculum (wing patch), and a pearly-white belly that gives the species its common name. Females, in contrast, are subtly attired in p...
This species favors open grasslands, savannas, and cultivated fields, often adjacent to marshy areas or bodies of water, typically found in lowlands up to elevations of around 1000 meters.
Predominantly a granivore, its diet consists primarily of small grass seeds (Poaceae) and other herbaceous plants, supplemented with small arthropods, especially during the breeding season for protein.
Pearly-bellied Seedeaters are primarily diurnal, spending their days foraging in low vegetation or on the ground. Males are highly vocal during the breeding season, delivering their rapid, musical, and trilling songs from prominent perches atop tall grasses or small shrubs to establish and defend...
The Pearly-bellied Seedeater's primary distribution encompasses southeastern South America, spanning parts of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. In Brazil, it breeds across states such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Goiás. Its range ...
Near Threatened
- The species name "pileata" comes from Latin, meaning "capped" or "wearing a cap," referring to the male's distinctive black cap. - Despite its small size, southern populations undertake regular migratory movements, traveling hundreds of kilometers north for the austral winter. - The male's stri...