Thick-billed Seed-Finch
Sporophila funerea
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyThraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
- GenusSporophila (Typical Seedeaters and Seed-Finches)
- SpeciesSporophila funerea (Thick-billed Seed-Finch)
About the Thick-billed Seed-Finch
The thick-billed seed finch (Sporophila funerea) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, but was until recently placed in Emberizidae. It is found widely in shrubby and grassy areas from southern Mexico, through Central America, to the Chocó in Colombia and Ecuador. It is replaced by the closely related chestnut-bellied seed finch in South America east of the Andes, as well as the valleys of Cauca and Magdalena in Colombia. The two have often been considered conspecific as the lesser seed-finch (Sporophila angolensis).
The male is almost entirely black, with a small white wing patch. The female is a rich brown all over. They are both very similar to the all-black Caribbean slope form of the variable seedeater. It is distinguished, however, by a larger bill with a straight culmen. They measure 11.5 cm (4.5 in) long and weigh 13.5 g (0.48 oz).
BirdLife species factsheet for Sporophila funerea "Sporophila funerea". Avibase. "Thick-billed seed-finch media". Internet Bird Collection. Thick-billed seed-finch photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University) Interactive range map of Oryzoborus funereus at IUCN Red List
Audio recordings of Thick-billed... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Darién National Park
Variable Seedeater
Sporophila corvina
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater
Sporophila minuta
Large-billed Seed-Finch
Sporophila crassirostris
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Sporophila nigricollis
Slate-colored Seedeater
Sporophila schistacea
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch
Sporophila angolensis
Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Palm Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
Plain-colored Tanager
Tangara inornata
White-shouldered Tanager
Loriotus luctuosus
Blue-black Grassquit
Volatinia jacarina
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Thick-billed Seed-Finch in Darién National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Thick-billed Seed-Finch sighting in Darién National Park, based on 288 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Thick-billed Seed-Finch in Darién National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Thick-billed Seed-Finch in Darién National Park in our monthly data.