Variable Seedeater (Sporophila) [XC271588]
by Peter Boesman from Cerro Azul area, Panama (song)
Variable Seedeater (Sporophila) [XC28548]
by Mike Nelson from Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, Dangriga Prov., Belize (call)
Subspecies
Sporophila americana (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Wing-barred Seedeater (Sporophila americana), Black Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) (2005) and Caqueta Seedeater (Sporophila murallae) (2007).
Formerly referred to as Sporophila aurita, but type of this name is unidentifiable as it originates from Canal Zone of Panama, where nominate subspecies and hicksii interbreed. Molecular evidence suggests that genus is closely related to Oryzoborus, which should perhaps be subsumed within it. Further, that both genera should be placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae). Forms a superspecies with Wing-barred Seedeater (Sporophila americana), Caqueta Seedeater (Sporophila murallae)and Grey Seedeater (Sporophila intermedia), and has been treated as conspecific with the first two. Grey Seedeater (Sporophila intermedia) was not thought to belong to this group until seen to hybridize with present species in two different regions of Colombia.
From Colombia, proposed subspecies anchicayae (described from R Anchicayá, in Valle) is a hybrid between subspecies hicksii of present species and subspecies bogotensis of Grey Seedeater (Sporophila intermedia), and chocoana (from Nuquí, in Chocó) is considered inseparable from hicksii.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
corvina (P.L. Sclater, 1859) - Southern Mexico (southern Veracruz and northern Oaxaca), Guatemala and Belize southern on Caribbean slope to Costa Rica and western Panama.
hoffmanni Cabanis, 1861 - Pacific slope of Costa Rica and extreme western Panama.
hicksii (Lawrence, 1865) - Pacific slope of Panama (except extreme west) east through Canal Zone to western Colombia (Córdoba south to Cauca).
ophthalmica (Sclater, PL, 1860) - Lowlands west of Andes from south-western Colombia (Nariño) south to north-western Peru (La Libertad). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Black-breasted Seedeater (Sporophila ophthalmica).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet