Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plumbeous Seedeater
Sporophila plumbea
Plumbeous Seedeater (Sporophila plumbea) — 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 Plumbeous Seedeater (Sporophila plumbea) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 9.7 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 plumbea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plumbeous Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Plumbeous Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Plumbeous Seedeater (Sporophila plumbea) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA n, c, sc.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.7 g, with a wing length of about 5.7 cm and a tail of around 4.2 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 4.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plumbeous Seedeater?
The Plumbeous Seedeater is a very small bird that weighs around 9.7 g.
Where does the Plumbeous Seedeater live?
The Plumbeous Seedeater is found across South America with a range covering SA n, c, sc, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Plumbeous Seedeater belong to?
The Plumbeous Seedeater (Sporophila plumbea) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Plumbeous Seedeater eat?
The Plumbeous Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Plumbeous Seedeater migrate?
The Plumbeous Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Plumbeous Seedeater 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 Plumbeous Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Plumbeous 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 Plumbeous Seedeater's range?
The Plumbeous Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 4.7 million 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.