male; black hood; white or pale yellowish below (Panama; 2008-06-21)


Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Sporophila nigricollis

Native Range: Latin America

Notes: surprisingly, "seedeaters" in the genus Sporophila (of which there are many species) are now placed in the tanager family even though these granivores generally resemble finches or sparrows; but in actuality, they can and should be considered highly specialized tanagers.


thick conical bill (Panama; 2008-06-21)

singing (Panama; 2008-06-21)

eating a grass seed (Panama; 2008-06-21)

posing for a portrait (Panama; 2008-06-21)