Habitat
Subtropical and tropical dry grassland, subtropical and tropical seasonally wet / flooded grassland, subtropical and tropical moist shrubland. From sea-level - 2,000 m.
Grey Seedeater (Sporophila) [XC202325]
by Yair Guillermo Molina Mart\u00ednez. from Ca\u00f1o Colorado, Monagas, Venezuela (call)
Grey Seedeater (Sporophila) [XC745109]
by Andrew Spencer from Dibulla, La Guajira, Colombia (song)
Subspecies
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 Black Seedeater (Sporophila corvina), Wing-barred Seedeater (Sporophila americana) and Caqueta Seedeater (Sporophila murallae). Was not thought to belong in this group until seen to hybridize with Black Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) in two different regions of Colombia. Subspecies insularis appears to be broadly sympatric with nominate and exhibits constant differences in plumage and biometrics. Has recently been proposed as representing a cryptic species. Further research required.
Proposed subspecies anchicayae (described from R Anchicayá, in Valle, in Colombia) is a hybrid between subspecies bogotensis of present species and subspecies hicksii of Black Seedeater (Sporophila corvina). Proposed subspecies agustini (San Agustín, Huila, Colombia) not reliably separable from bogotensis, and better merged therein.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
intermedia Cabanis, 1851 - Northern and eastern Colombia (Caribbean coast, lower Magdalena Valley, and llanos in east), northern Venezuela and Guyana, and northern Brazil (Roraima).
bogotensis (Gilliard, 1946) - Western Colombia on western slope of western Andes (east to Cauca Valley).
insularis (Gilliard, 1946) - Venezuela north of R Orinoco; Trinidad.
anchicayae Miller, 1960 - Colombia (valley of the Río Anchicayá in Valle).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet