Scientific Name: Sporophila corvina

Small seed-eating bird of humid tropical lowlands; fairly common. Found in grassy and weedy areas and forest edges, often in same places as slightly larger Thick-billed Seed-Finch. In pairs or small flocks, mixing readily with Morelet’s Seedeaters and other seed-eating birds. Note stubby bill (unlike Thick-billed Seed-Finch) and plain brownish olive plumage of female (not rich brown like seed-finch). Males in Mexico and most of Central America are black. In southern Central America and South America males have variable amounts of white on the underparts and rump, hence the name.

The Variable Seedeater’s cheerful chirps and constant motion bring life to pastures, roadsides, and overgrown lots. These energetic little birds can often be seen clinging to tall grass stems, skillfully extracting seeds with their short, strong bills. Males frequently sing from exposed perches to mark their territories or attract mates, while females quietly forage below. Their adaptability to disturbed habitats makes them a familiar and resilient presence throughout much of the tropics.