Photo: Dario Sanches from São Paulo, Brazil / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Temminck’s Seedeater
Sporophila falcirostris
Temminck's Seedeater (Sporophila falcirostris) — 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 Temminck’s Seedeater (Sporophila falcirostris) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 13.5 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 falcirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Temminck’s Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Temminck’s Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Temminck’s Seedeater (Sporophila falcirostris) is a member of the Thraupidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 172,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Temminck’s Seedeater?
The Temminck’s Seedeater is a very small bird that weighs around 13.5 g.
Where does the Temminck’s Seedeater live?
The Temminck’s Seedeater is found across South America with a range covering SA se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Temminck’s Seedeater belong to?
The Temminck’s Seedeater (Sporophila falcirostris) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Temminck’s Seedeater eat?
The Temminck’s Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Temminck’s Seedeater migrate?
The Temminck’s Seedeater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Temminck’s 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 Temminck’s Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Temminck’s 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 Temminck’s Seedeater's range?
The Temminck’s Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 172,000 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.