Paramo Seedeater (Catamenia homochroa) [XC344367]
by David Monroy Rengifo from Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia (song)
Paramo Seedeater (Catamenia homochroa) [XC220556]
by Mitch Lysinger from Santa Marta Lorenzo road, Magdalena, Colombia (song)
Subspecies
Molecular data suggest that genus is part of a clade which includes Haplospiza, as well as Phrygilus unicolor and Phrygilus plebejus (but not other members of latter genus). Subspecies oreophila often treated as a separate species. Differences in plumage, voice and ecology suggest that tepui subspecies duncani may be a separate species, but more research needed. Also, birds in Sierra La Neblina, on southern Venezuela / northern Brazil border, have noticeably darker plumage than others, and may merit treatment as a separate subspecies. Further study is required.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
oreophila Todd, 1913 - Santa Marta Mts, in northern Colombia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Santa Marta Seedeater (Catamenia oreophila).
homochroa Sclater, 1858 - Sierra de Perijá (Colombia-Venezuela border), and Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida) and Colombia south to Peru and north-western Bolivia (La Paz and Cochabamba).
duncani (Chubb, C, 1921) - Tepui highlands of Venezuela and adjacent northern Brazil (extreme northern Amazonas).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet