Variable Seedeater © ecosdelbosque.com

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).

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BirdLife International For more information about the Variable Seedeater see... BirdLife International Species Factsheet. Articles about the Variable Seedeater If you would like to read any articles about the Variable Seedeater... Show Articles (0) No Pictures of Variable Seedeater If Birdpedia has no pictures of Variable Seedeater or you would like to see more, then try the following...       From BING (10) No Videos of Variable Seedeater If Birdpedia has no videos of Variable Seedeater or you would like to see more, then try the following..       From BING (0) Where can I observe this species? Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded. Area   COSTARICA COCOS   All    Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or   Find GPS using Google Maps Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings On What Field Trips was this species observed? Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded. Area   COSTARICA COCOS   All    From To     Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings Latest Sightings for Variable Seedeater Select the Area to restrict the Sightings. Area   COSTARICA COCOS   All