Copper Seedeater

Sporophila bouvreuil

Very small finchlike bird with a short bill. Males are unmistakable—mostly cinnamon with a black cap, wings, and tail. Females are brown above and pale below. Both sexes have a white wing spot. Females are difficult to separate from female Pearly-bellied Seedeaters, but they are less gray overall than Pearly-bellied. Found in savannas and grasslands where it is often seen in flocks with other seedeaters.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Sporophila bouvreuil
Authority
(Müller, PLS, 1776)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thraupidae
Genus
Sporophila

Range and habitat

Migration
Complete migrants

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Brown-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant

Brown-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant

Hemitriccus obsoletus

Tiny flycatcher found in the understory of forests with bamboo. Plain olive-brown above and pale buff below. Note the buff spot in front of the eye. The similar Drab-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant has a white (not buff) spot in front of the eye and occurs at lower elevations than the Brown-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant. The song is series of “tic-tic-tic” notes.

White-throated Cacholote

White-throated Cacholote

Pseudoseisura gutturalis

Chunky brown bird of Argentina’s Monte desert region. From other cacholotes by reduced crest, whitish throat, and grayish plumage. Forages on or near ground, but will rest or sing from high exposed perches, especially telephone poles or tall, bare trees. Song a raucous, very long series of squeaky but dry notes, often given in duet. Calls very dry, almost reminiscent of woodpecker taps.

Ghana Cuckooshrike

Ghana Cuckooshrike

Lobotos lobatus

A spectacular cuckooshrike that resembles an oriole, with a yellow-green back, wings and tail, a dark head and bill, and large fleshy orange wattles under the eyes. The sexes differ: the underparts of the male are apricot and those of the female are yellow; she also has a less contrasting brownish head. Juvenile is like the female but barred above, with a less distinct head pattern. A rare bird found singly and in pairs in the canopy of primary and secondary lowland forest, often near water. Moves stealthily through the canopy, where it joins mixed-species parties; flight call is a thrush-like “tsik.” Differs from forest orioles by having a dark (not red) bill and fleshy wattles under the eyes.  

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