Marsh Seedeater
Encyclopedia
The Marsh Seedeater is a species of bird
in the Thraupidae family. It is sexually dichromic
, with the males sporting a bright white throat, grey crown and chestnut belly, and the females resembling other brown female seedeaters.
It is found in Argentina
, Brazil
, Paraguay
, and Uruguay
. It is migratory
, breeding in wet grasslands and marshes around Uruguay and Argentina and migrating northwards in the austral winter to wet and dry grasslands in southern Brazil.
It is threatened by habitat loss, trapping for the pet trade, and pesticides. It is currently protected across most of its range and several protected areas may help safeguard this species.
province of Argentina, and a few individuals have been found in Corrientes
province and in southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and southeastern Uruguay. It has been listed as a separate species, Sporophila zelichi (Narosky 1977), the Entre Ríos, White-collared, Zelich's, or Narosky's Seedeater. Differences are that it has a wide white collar all the way around the neck; the back is chestnut, not grey; and the rufous of the belly is darker than the Marsh Seedeater's. However, its status has been controversial since its discovery; some have suggested that it is a color morph
of the Marsh Seedeater or the Chestnut Seedeater
, or a hybrid between the two. The few recorded songs are the same as those of the Marsh Seedeater. Accordingly, the American Ornithologists' Union
's South American Classification Committee voted in 2008 to remove S. zelichi from their list, with two voters favoring the suggestion that it is a morph of the Marsh Seedeater. Following them, it is considered to belong to the Marsh Seedeater here.
If zelichi is a separate species, it is critically endangered.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Thraupidae family. It is sexually dichromic
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, with the males sporting a bright white throat, grey crown and chestnut belly, and the females resembling other brown female seedeaters.
It is found in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, 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...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. It is migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, breeding in wet grasslands and marshes around Uruguay and Argentina and migrating northwards in the austral winter to wet and dry grasslands in southern Brazil.
It is threatened by habitat loss, trapping for the pet trade, and pesticides. It is currently protected across most of its range and several protected areas may help safeguard this species.
The Entre Ríos Seedeater
A rare seedeater very similar to this species breeds in the Entre RíosEntre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
province of Argentina, and a few individuals have been found in Corrientes
Corrientes
Corrientes is the capital city of the province of Corrientes, Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about from Buenos Aires and from Posadas, on National Route 12...
province and in southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and southeastern Uruguay. It has been listed as a separate species, Sporophila zelichi (Narosky 1977), the Entre Ríos, White-collared, Zelich's, or Narosky's Seedeater. Differences are that it has a wide white collar all the way around the neck; the back is chestnut, not grey; and the rufous of the belly is darker than the Marsh Seedeater's. However, its status has been controversial since its discovery; some have suggested that it is a color morph
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
of the Marsh Seedeater or the Chestnut Seedeater
Chestnut Seedeater
The Chestnut Seedeater is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland....
, or a hybrid between the two. The few recorded songs are the same as those of the Marsh Seedeater. Accordingly, the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
's South American Classification Committee voted in 2008 to remove S. zelichi from their list, with two voters favoring the suggestion that it is a morph of the Marsh Seedeater. Following them, it is considered to belong to the Marsh Seedeater here.
If zelichi is a separate species, it is critically endangered.