Photo: Peiteador / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Marsh Seedeater
Sporophila palustris
Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Sporophila
- Species palustris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.2 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Marsh Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Marsh Seedeater is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Argentina, Uruguay and s Brazil.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.2 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 4 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 87,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Marsh Seedeater?
The Marsh Seedeater is a very small bird that weighs around 8.2 g.
Where does the Marsh Seedeater live?
The Marsh Seedeater is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Argentina, Uruguay and s Brazil, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Marsh Seedeater belong to?
The Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Marsh Seedeater eat?
The Marsh Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Marsh Seedeater migrate?
The Marsh Seedeater is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Marsh Seedeater endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Marsh Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Marsh 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 Marsh Seedeater's range?
The Marsh Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 87,000 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.