[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Thraupidae | [latin] Sporophila torqueola | [UK] White-collared Seedeater | [FR] Sporophile a collier blanc | [DE] Braunburzel-Pfaffchen | [ES] Espiguero de Collar | [NL] Witkraagdikbekje
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Sporophila | torqueola | NA, MA | s Texas to Panama | ||
| Sporophila | torqueola | morelleti | |||
| Sporophila | torqueola | mutanda | |||
| Sporophila | torqueola | sharpei | |||
| Sporophila | torqueola | torqueola |
Physical charateristics
Male: A tiny bird with whitish or buffy underparts and blackish cap and upper parts. Much white in wing; bill very stubby and swollen; a narrow dark breastband (usually incomplete in Texas birds) and a broad
light collar around neck. Female: The small size, buffy underparts, and very stubby bill are good marks; light wing bars.
light collar around neck. Female: The small size, buffy underparts, and very stubby bill are good marks; light wing bars.
Listen to the sound of White-collared Seedeater
[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/W/White-collared Seedeater.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 14 | cm | wingspan max.: | 16 | cm |
| size min.: | 10 | cm | size max.: | 11 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 11 | days | incubation max.: | 13 | days |
| fledging min.: | 10 | days | fledging max.: | 11 | days |
| broods: | 2 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 5 |
Range
North America, Middle America : South Texas to Panama
Habitat
Weedy places, tall grass, brush.
In Texas, found mainly in weedy overgrown fields or brushy open woods, typically close to water; may roost in tall marsh growth. Farther south in tropics, found in a wide variety of open habitats, from marshes and open grassy fields to brushy edges of wo
ods.
In Texas, found mainly in weedy overgrown fields or brushy open woods, typically close to water; may roost in tall marsh growth. Farther south in tropics, found in a wide variety of open habitats, from marshes and open grassy fields to brushy edges of wo
ods.
Reproduction
Nesting behavior is not well known. Often nests in small colonies, with several pairs fairly close together. Male sings to defend nesting territory.
Nest: In Texas, nests have been found in shrubs or in large weeds such as giant ragweed, usually 3-
5′ above the ground. Nest (probably built by female) is a small and compact open cup of grass, small twigs, rootlets, plant fibers, and plant down, sometimes with the addition of spider webs or animal hair.
Eggs: Probably 2-4. Pale blue to pale gray, with spots of brown often concentrated at the larger end. Incubation is probably by female only, about 13 days.
Young: Both parents bring food for the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 9-11 days after hatching.
Nest: In Texas, nests have been found in shrubs or in large weeds such as giant ragweed, usually 3-
5′ above the ground. Nest (probably built by female) is a small and compact open cup of grass, small twigs, rootlets, plant fibers, and plant down, sometimes with the addition of spider webs or animal hair.
Eggs: Probably 2-4. Pale blue to pale gray, with spots of brown often concentrated at the larger end. Incubation is probably by female only, about 13 days.
Young: Both parents bring food for the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 9-11 days after hatching.
Feeding habits
Seeds and insects. Diet is not well known but probably includes many small seeds, especially those of grasses. Also probably feeds on a variety of small insects.
Behavior:
Forages in low growth or sometimes on the ground, clambering about among grasses and weeds and plucking seeds from grass stalks. Occasionally will feed higher in dense bushes or low trees. Except in nesting season, almost always forages in flocks.
Behavior:
Forages in low growth or sometimes on the ground, clambering about among grasses and weeds and plucking seeds from grass stalks. Occasionally will feed higher in dense bushes or low trees. Except in nesting season, almost always forages in flocks.
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
So
uthern Texas to Costa Rica. Very local resident along Rio Grande. Migration:
Apparently a permanent resident throughout its range. When the species was more common in Texas, the birds apparently would move around somewhat in flocks during the winter.
uthern Texas to Costa Rica. Very local resident along Rio Grande. Migration:
Apparently a permanent resident throughout its range. When the species was more common in Texas, the birds apparently would move around somewhat in flocks during the winter.
Distribution map
