The white-bellied seedeater is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found mainly in Bolivia, Paraguay and eastern Brazil, with smaller numbers in Suriname, southeastern Peru and northern Argentina. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, swamps, and heavily degraded former forest.
Region
South America
Typical Environment
Primarily occurs in Bolivia, Paraguay, and eastern Brazil, with smaller populations in northern Argentina, southeastern Peru, and Suriname. It inhabits moist shrublands, marshy edges, seasonally flooded grasslands, and degraded or secondary growth. Often found along river margins, gallery vegetation, and in weedy pastures and fallows. It tolerates human-modified landscapes, including rice fields and cattle pastures, provided grass seed is abundant.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
A small South American seedeater in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it favors shrubby wetlands, swamps, and weedy fields. Males are noted for crisp white underparts and a pale wing patch, while females are plain brown and inconspicuous. It adapts well to disturbed habitats and agricultural edges and may gather in small flocks outside the breeding season. In some regions it is affected by trapping for the cage-bird trade.
Temperament
wary but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season it often forms small loose flocks, sometimes mixing with other Sporophila seedeaters. Males sing from exposed perches in shrubs or tall grasses during the breeding period. Nests are small cups placed low in dense vegetation, with typical clutches of 2–3 eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
The song is a series of thin, tinkling whistles and brief trills, often delivered from an open perch. Calls are sharp, metallic tseet notes given in contact within small groups.
Plumage
Male shows contrasting white underparts with darker brown to gray-brown upperparts and a noticeable pale (whitish) wing patch; the bill is stout and conical. Female is uniformly warm brown above with paler buffy underparts and lacks strong contrasts. Both sexes have smooth, compact plumage suited to grassland and wetland edges.
Diet
Primarily consumes grass and sedge seeds, including those of weedy pasture species and wetland grasses. It picks seeds directly from seed heads and also gleans fallen seeds on the ground. During times of abundance it focuses on ripening seed heads in marshy edges and fallows. It may shift microhabitats seasonally to track seeding grasses.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in weedy fields, edges of marshes and swamps, seasonally flooded meadows, and along ditches and riverbanks. Also uses agricultural margins such as rice fields and cattle pastures where seed availability is high.
