Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Thick-billed Seed Finch
Sporophila funerea
Thick-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila funerea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Thick-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila funerea) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 13 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 funerea
Where it lives
Southeastern Mexico to southwestern Ecuador
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Thick-billed Seed Finch 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 Thick-billed Seed Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Thick-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila funerea) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Mexico to sw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 731,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Thick-billed Seed Finch?
The Thick-billed Seed Finch is a very small bird that weighs around 13 g.
Where does the Thick-billed Seed Finch live?
The Thick-billed Seed Finch is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Mexico to sw Ecuador, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Thick-billed Seed Finch belong to?
The Thick-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila funerea) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Thick-billed Seed Finch eat?
The Thick-billed Seed Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Thick-billed Seed Finch migrate?
The Thick-billed Seed Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Thick-billed Seed Finch 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 Thick-billed Seed Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Thick-billed Seed Finch — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Thick-billed Seed Finch's range?
The Thick-billed Seed Finch has a mapped global range of about 731,000 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.