Photo: Dario Sanches from São Paulo, Brazil / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Buffy-fronted Seedeater
Sporophila frontalis
Buffy-fronted Seedeater (Sporophila frontalis) — 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 Buffy-fronted Seedeater (Sporophila frontalis) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 19.3 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 frontalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater (Sporophila frontalis) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA e Paraguay and ne Argentina; se Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 186,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buffy-fronted Seedeater?
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is a small bird that weighs around 19.3 g.
Where does the Buffy-fronted Seedeater live?
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is found across South America with a range covering SA e Paraguay and ne Argentina; se Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Buffy-fronted Seedeater belong to?
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater (Sporophila frontalis) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Buffy-fronted Seedeater eat?
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Buffy-fronted Seedeater migrate?
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Buffy-fronted 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 Buffy-fronted Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Buffy-fronted Seedeater — 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 Buffy-fronted Seedeater's range?
The Buffy-fronted Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 186,000 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
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A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.