The wing-barred seedeater is a passerine bird from coastal regions of north-eastern South America in north-eastern Venezuela, Tobago, the Guianas, Amapá and north-eastern Pará, Brazil, and along the Amazon River upstream to around Manaus. Formerly, it included the mainly Central American Sporophila corvina and the west Amazonian S. murallae as subspecies, in which case the combined species had the common name Variable Seedeater. Following the split, this common name is now restricted to S. corvina.
Region
Guianas and lower Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs from coastal northeastern Venezuela through Tobago and the Guianas into Amapá and northeastern Pará, Brazil, extending along the Amazon River upstream to around Manaus. Prefers open and semi-open habitats such as river islands, grassy floodplains, marsh edges, pastures, and weedy fields, often near water. Uses shrubby edges and second-growth clearings, especially where seeding grasses are abundant. Readily adapts to human-modified landscapes with suitable cover and seed sources.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The wing-barred seedeater is a small tanager of open, grassy habitats in northeastern South America, where it is often conspicuous on river islands and weedy fields. Males show striking white wing bars that flash in flight, while females are warm brown and more cryptic. This species was once lumped with the Variable Seedeater complex but is now treated separately, with S. corvina retaining the Variable Seedeater name. It frequently forms mixed flocks with other seedeaters outside the breeding season.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief undulations
Social Behavior
Often seen in small flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with other Sporophila. During breeding, pairs defend small territories in grassy or shrubby areas and nest low in vegetation. The cup nest is built from fine grasses and plant fibers, and both parents attend to the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Male song is a series of high, thin trills and twitters delivered from exposed perches. Calls are sharp tsip or tsee notes, given frequently while foraging and in flight.
