Photo: Nick Athanas / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-billed Seed Finch
Sporophila atrirostris
Black-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila atrirostris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila atrirostris) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 26 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 atrirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Endangered
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-billed Seed Finch 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-billed Seed Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila atrirostris) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA far sc Colombia and e Ecuador to c Bolivia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 6 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 201,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-billed Seed Finch?
The Black-billed Seed Finch is a small bird that weighs around 26 g.
Where does the Black-billed Seed Finch live?
The Black-billed Seed Finch is found across South America with a range covering SA far sc Colombia and e Ecuador to c Bolivia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-billed Seed Finch belong to?
The Black-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila atrirostris) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-billed Seed Finch eat?
The Black-billed Seed Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-billed Seed Finch migrate?
The Black-billed Seed Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-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 Black-billed Seed Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Black-billed Seed Finch — 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-billed Seed Finch's range?
The Black-billed Seed Finch has a mapped global range of about 201,000 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.