Sunday, 11 January 2026

Morelet's Seedeater (Sporophila morelleti)


OTHER NAMES:
N/A
Latin Etymology: Sporophila ("seed loving") morelleti (for naturalist Pierre Morelet)

 

Female Morelet's Seedeater (Sporophila morelleti) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025


Featured Subspecies: Sporophila morelleti morelleti
Weight: 6-12g  /  Length: 9.5-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most northerly ranging member of the seedeaters being found up to to the Rio Grande along the Southern US border. Interestingly, while as adults they live up to their name as seedeaters, they primarily feed their chicks insects as a higher protein food source to help them grow, who then switch to seeds on fledging.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Sporophila
SUBSPECIES: S. m. sharpei, S. m. morelleti
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Semillero de Morelet
A widespread resident of lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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