Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Variable Seedeater
Sporophila corvina
Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 10.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Sporophila
- Species corvina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Variable Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Variable Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) is a member of the Thraupidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Mexico to Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 cm and a tail of around 4.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 243,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Variable Seedeater?
The Variable Seedeater is a very small bird that weighs around 10.6 g.
Where does the Variable Seedeater live?
The Variable Seedeater is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Mexico to Peru, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Variable Seedeater belong to?
The Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Variable Seedeater eat?
The Variable Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Variable Seedeater migrate?
The Variable Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Variable Seedeater endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Variable Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Variable Seedeater — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Variable Seedeater's range?
The Variable Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 243,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.