Buffy-fronted Seedeater Sporophila frontalis Scientific name definitions

Endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome, the Buffy-fronted Seedeater’s erratic appearances in any given area are apparently dependent on flowering bamboo. At such times, hundreds or even thousands of these seedeaters might be present, their presence first announced by the male’s loud song, which sounds almost like a pulse of electricity, and the birds often joined by equally large numbers of Temminck’s Seedeaters (Sporophila falcirostris) and Uniform Finches (Haplospiza unicolor). Principally arboreal, this seedeater is mainly olive-colored above, with two buffish wing bars, a grayer head, pale forehead patch and post-ocular supercilium, and a whitish throat (at least in adult males). Females, as well as younger males, lack the striking head pattern, although they also have wing bars. The Buffy-fronted Seedeater is also a very popular cagebird, presumably on account of its remarkable song, and this has undoubtedly led to declines across the species’ range.

12·5 cm; 19·8–21 g. Large seedeater, the largest of genus, with short, deep and strongly rounded bill. Male has head greyish, contrasting creamy and flaring eyebrow behind eye, sometimes a large creamy supral­oral patch (supraloral patches do not meet on forehead); upperparts, including upperwing and tail, olive; median and greater upperwing-coverts tipped buffish (forming well-defined bold wingbars), outer primaries with buffish bases (buff “handkerchief” on folded wing); throat and submoustachial area white, contrasting distinctly with darker grey malar stripe and side of face; olive breastband, olive continuing to flanks, otherwise underparts whitish, becoming buffy on undertail-coverts; iris dark; bill orange to dull horn-coloured, often duskier on culmen; legs dull dusky-pinkish to blackish. Female lacks grey head and creamy forehead and supercilium of male, is olive throughout, with contrasting buffy-olive wingbars; more evenly pale olive below, lacking white throat of male. Immature male is similar to female, but with whiter throat, indistinct pale postocular supercilium, wingbars brighter buff; some males said never to acquire “normal” adult plumage, these dull-coloured males referred to as having “taquara” plumage.

SE Brazil (from also S Bahia, Espírito Santo and SE Minas Gerais S to N Rio Grande do Sul), E Paraguay (Alto Paraná) and NE Argentina (Misiones).

VULNERABLE. Uncommon to rare, and everywhere irregular. Global population estimated to be in range 2500–9999 individuals, and likely to be declining. Very patchily distributed. In Brazil, most records from Rio de Janeiro, and relatively few in rest of species’ range; several recent records in Bahia, including many observed in 2006 in bamboo thicket near Una Biological Reserve; rare in rest of Brazilian range, and no confirmed records from Rio Grande do Sul since 19th century. Only one record from Paraguay, at turn of 19th–20th century; in Argentina, single records from Iguazú in 1978 and Obraje Esmeralda in 1993. Formerly common locally in Brazil, and flocks of sometimes thousands of individuals (perhaps representing high percentage of global population) reported at several localities between 1880s and early 1980s. Since end of 19th century has undergone rapid decline as a result of deforestation, this further exacerbated by the species’ clear dependence on bamboo; in addition, trapping for the cagebird trade has had a significant impact on its numbers. Protected under Brazilian law, and occurs regularly in Tijuca, Serra dos Órgãos and Itatiaia National Parks, Serra do Mar, Desengano and Ilha do Cardoso State Parks, and Ubatuba Experimental Station; in Argentina, has occurred in Esmeralda Provincial Park. Main threat is the continuing and rapid clearance of Atlantic Forest, which has resulted in intervals between major bamboo flowerings and this species’ breeding attempts becoming longer; its nomadic habits would suggest that existing reserves do not afford adequate protection. Also, trapping for the pet trade is a serious problem; at times, lots of 100–200 individuals of this seedeater have been on sale in Rio de Janeiro.

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.