The sooty grassquit is a small bird. It is recognized as a tanager closely related to Darwins finches.
Region
Northern South America and the southern Caribbean
Typical Environment
Occurs in open and semi-open habitats such as grasslands, weedy fields, scrub, forest edges, and agricultural mosaics. It is often found near human-modified areas like roadsides and pastures. On islands and adjacent mainland, it favors low dense cover for foraging and nesting. It typically avoids dense interior forest but uses edges and clearings.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The sooty grassquit is a small tanager closely related to Darwin’s finches, reflecting their shared seed-cracking bill adaptations. Males are dark and sooty, while females are browner and more subtly marked. It thrives in weedy fields, edges, and disturbed habitats, and may visit feeders offering small seeds. Its taxonomy was revised from Tiaris to Asemospiza by several modern checklists.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often forages in small groups outside the breeding season and may mix loosely with other small seedeaters. Nests are small cups placed low in grasses or shrubs. Pairs defend a modest territory during breeding, with both parents involved in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a brief series of thin, high-pitched twitters and trills. Calls are sharp chips and thin tsee notes given while foraging or in flight.
Plumage
Male is uniformly sooty to blackish with a slight bluish gloss; female is dull brown-olive above with paler, grayish-buff underparts. Plumage is fairly plain, with minimal streaking and subtle pale edging on the wings.
Diet
Primarily consumes small grass and weed seeds, using its stout bill to husk them efficiently. It supplements with small insects and other arthropods, especially during the breeding season. Occasional intake of soft plant material may occur. Opportunistic feeding helps it thrive in disturbed habitats.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on or near the ground in weedy patches, along paths, and at field edges. Also takes seeds directly from seed heads in low vegetation and may visit feeding stations offering small seeds.
