Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-and-tawny Seedeater
Sporophila nigrorufa
Black-and-tawny Seedeater (Sporophila nigrorufa) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater (Sporophila nigrorufa) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 10.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Sporophila
- Species nigrorufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-and-tawny 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 Black-and-tawny Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater (Sporophila nigrorufa) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Brazil and Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.8 g, with a wing length of about 4.9 cm and a tail of around 4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 117,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-and-tawny Seedeater?
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater is a very small bird that weighs around 10.8 g.
Where does the Black-and-tawny Seedeater live?
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Brazil and Bolivia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-and-tawny Seedeater belong to?
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater (Sporophila nigrorufa) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-and-tawny Seedeater eat?
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-and-tawny Seedeater migrate?
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-and-tawny Seedeater endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Black-and-tawny Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Black-and-tawny 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 Black-and-tawny Seedeater's range?
The Black-and-tawny Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 117,000 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.