Photo: Dario Niz / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut Seedeater
Sporophila cinnamomea
Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea) — 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 Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.9 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 cinnamomea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.9 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 Chestnut 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 Chestnut Seedeater is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Paraguay, ne Argentina, s Brazil and Uruguay.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 3.9 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 328,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut Seedeater?
The Chestnut Seedeater is a very small bird that weighs around 8.9 g.
Where does the Chestnut Seedeater live?
The Chestnut Seedeater is found across South America with a range covering SA s Paraguay, ne Argentina, s Brazil and Uruguay, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Chestnut Seedeater belong to?
The Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut Seedeater eat?
The Chestnut Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut Seedeater migrate?
The Chestnut Seedeater is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Chestnut 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 Chestnut Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut 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 Chestnut Seedeater's range?
The Chestnut Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 328,000 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.