Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea) - HBW 16, p. 660

French: Sporophile cannelle German: Zimtpfäffchen Spanish: Semillero Castaño
Other common names: Grey-capped Chestnut Seedeater; Narosky’s/Entre Rios Seedeater (“S. zelichi”)

Taxonomy: Pyrrhula cinnamomea Lafresnaye, 1839, River Araguaia, Goiás, Brazil.
Molecular evidence suggests that genus is closely related to Oryzoborus, which should perhaps be subsumed within it; further, that both genera should be placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae). A molecular-genetic study of 17 species in genus, including ten in “capped” group (“capuchinos”), indicated that latter form two clades, a N clade largely N of R Amazon containing S. minuta and S. castaneiventris, and a S clade consisting of present species and S. bouvreuil, S. hypoxantha, S. hypochroma, S. ruficollis, S. palustris and S. melanogaster. Determination of relationships within the S clade not possible, as genetic differentiation very low and species are apparently part of a very recent and rapid radiation. Form described as S. zelichi (from Entre Ríos, in NE Argentina) considered to be a white-necked morph of S. palustris or possibly a hybrid between latter and present species. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in NE Argentina (Corrientes and Entre Ríos), extreme SE Paraguay (Itapúa), extreme SE Brazil (W & SC Rio Grande do Sul) and W & SE Uruguay (mostly Paysandú, Río Negro and Rocha, also Artigas, Soriano and Treinta y Tres). Migrates N as far as SC Brazil (Goiás, SE Mato Grosso and W Minas Gerais).