Black-and-white Seedeater
Sporophila luctuosa
Well-named seedeater found from Venezuela to Bolivia. Male is distinctive: all black above with a white patch at the base of the primaries and a white belly. Could be confused with Yellow-bellied Seedeater, but that species lacks the wing patch and the belly is pale yellow. Females are plain brown and extremely similar to other seedeaters; look for accompanying males to help identify! Generally an Andean species, found up to around 2,500m, but sometimes wanders into adjacent lowlands. Uncommon in grassy areas or scrubby edge, often in flocks with other seedeaters.
Identification
The black-and-white seedeater (Sporophila luctuosa) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.
Taxonomy
Genus: Sporophila; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Sporophila luctuosa
- Authority
- (Lafresnaye, 1843)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Sporophila
Range and habitat
Breeding range: SA : Venezuela to Bolivia. Non-breeding range: to w Amazonia.
- Breeding range
- SA : Venezuela to Bolivia
- Non-breeding range
- to w Amazonia
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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Lesser Bird-of-Paradise
Paradisaea minor
A large bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge. Both sexes have yellow back and yellow eye. Male has a chestnut breast and white and yellow plumes which he raises above his back during his display, in which he flaps his chestnut wings. The male is distinguished from Greater by his yellow back and Emperor by his brown chest. Females distinguished from other species by their white underparts and black hood. Male gives a typical, repeated, nasal squawk.
Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon
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A large pigeon with a mostly gray chest and head, a cinnamon underside, and green wings. Large red knob above the bill is distinctive. Common in most habitats, but prefers primary forest. Juvenile resembles Finsch’s Imperial-Pigeon, but has a paler ruddy underside and lacks that species’ bold white eye-ring and white tail band. Voice is primarily a rising then falling “whooOOOoo.”
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