Cinnamon-Rumped Seedeater (Sporophila torqueola) lives in dry scrubland across Central America, Mexico. It feeds on seeds and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Cinnamon-Rumped Seedeater
- Molecular work has shown that the cinnamon-rumped seedeater shares a more recent common ancestor with other members of the Sporophila genus than it does with the bird now called Morelet's seedeater. Those genetic findings place it firmly inside the core Sporophila clade, confirming that its evolutionary history follows the typical seedeater lineage rather than the separate line represented by Morelet's.
- One of the two recognised subspecies, S. torqueola, inhabits the southern part of the Baja California peninsula and extends into western Mexico. Its range covers the coastal and inland grasslands of that region, where it occupies the same habitats as the species as a whole. By occupying this specific geographic zone, torqueola represents the westernmost population of the cinnamon-rumped seedeater.
- The subspecies S. atriceps lives in central and southwestern Mexico. It shares the species' overall range, which is confined to western Mexico, while its counterpart S. torqueola occupies southern Baja California and western Mexico. Together the two subspecies cover the full extent of the cinnamon-rumped seedeater's endemic distribution.
- The cinnamon-rumped seedeater prefers tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands, but it also makes use of pastures, cultivated fields and heavily degraded former forests. These varied habitats lie within its endemic western-Mexico range, allowing the bird to exploit both natural and human-altered landscapes. Its foraging on top of herbaceous plants reflects this adaptability.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeCentral America, Mexico
HabitatDry scrubland
DietSeeds and insects
About the Cinnamon-Rumped Seedeater
In the sun-drenched grasslands, the Cinnamon-Rumped Seedeater dances with an air of unassuming elegance, its subdued plumage a masterful blend of earthy tones that allow it to weave seamlessly into the rustling undergrowth. As it flits between the slender stems, its bright cinnamon-hued rump flashes like a fleeting beacon, a vibrant signature that betrays its otherwise understated demeanor. With each delicate hop, the Seedeater embodies the very essence of its habitat, a tiny, unobtrusive monarch of the grassy realm.
Hear the Cinnamon-Rumped Seedeater, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
