Hooded Seedeater
Encyclopedia
The Hooded Seedeater is a mysterious bird from Brazil
from the genus of typical seedeater
s (Sporophila). It is only known by the male holotype
from 1823.
This has a length of eleven centimetres and is so oddly patterned that some scientists regard it variously as either a hybrid or an abnormal specimen of the Yellow-bellied Seedeater
(Sporophila nigricollis). The bird had a black crest and throat. The upperparts are olive. The underparts show a dingy buff. In contrast, the Yellow-bellied Seedeater has pale yellow underparts and the black coloring extends to the upperbreast.
It is considered possibly extinct by BirdLife International
(listed by the IUCN as critically endangered
), however it is not excluded that it could still exist because its habitat alongside the Rio Araguaia in the extreme west-central Goiás
, Brazil
is still poorly surveyed and undisturbed.
The only known individual was caught in October 1823 from a flock of other seedeater species at the edge of a lake 15 kilometres north of Registro do Araguaia. It was heavily moulted. It was first described by Austrian ornithologist August von Pelzeln
in 1870.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
from the genus of typical seedeater
Seedeater
The seedeaters are a form taxon of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively conical bill.Most are Central and South American birds that were formerly placed in the American sparrow family , but are now known to be tanagers closely related to Darwins finches...
s (Sporophila). It is only known by the male holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
from 1823.
This has a length of eleven centimetres and is so oddly patterned that some scientists regard it variously as either a hybrid or an abnormal specimen of the Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
The Yellow-bellied Seedeater is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, formerly placed with the American sparrows in the Emberizidae....
(Sporophila nigricollis). The bird had a black crest and throat. The upperparts are olive. The underparts show a dingy buff. In contrast, the Yellow-bellied Seedeater has pale yellow underparts and the black coloring extends to the upperbreast.
It is considered possibly extinct by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
(listed by the IUCN as critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
), however it is not excluded that it could still exist because its habitat alongside the Rio Araguaia in the extreme west-central Goiás
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
is still poorly surveyed and undisturbed.
The only known individual was caught in October 1823 from a flock of other seedeater species at the edge of a lake 15 kilometres north of Registro do Araguaia. It was heavily moulted. It was first described by Austrian ornithologist August von Pelzeln
August von Pelzeln
August von Pelzeln was an Austrian ornithologist.August Edler Pelzeln was in charge of the mammal and bird collections at the Imperial Natural History Museum in Vienna...
in 1870.