Variable seedeater

Appearance

Females are olive-brown above, paler below, and have white wing linings like the male. The racial differences in the female plumages are minor, with ''S. c. hoffmannii'', ''S. c. hicksii'' and ''S. c. ophthalmica'' generally being paler and less brown than ''S. c. corvina'', and often with a faint yellow tinge below. Juveniles are like the adult female of their subspecies. Males may not acquire the full adult plumage in their first year, and may breed whilst still showing some immature features in their appearance.

Behavior

The variable seedeater has a harsh ''chur'' call. The male's song consists of a mixture of warbles, whistles, and twitters, and is more elaborate on the Pacific slope.

Habitat

This seedeater is a common to abundant bird in lowlands and foothills up to 1,500 m altitude in semi-open areas such as forest edges, roadsides, low scrub and gardens. It also flocks with other species of seedeaters in pasture, weedy fields and other grassland.

Reproduction

The flimsy cup nest, built by the female, is made of coarse plant material and lined with a few finer fibres. It is placed in a tree 0.4 to 6 m up, occasionally higher, in the fork of a twig. The clutch is two or three brown-speckled pale grey eggs, which are incubated by the female alone for 12–14 days to hatching.

Food

This species feeds mainly on grass seeds but also takes other seeds, berries and some insects.