Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Dubois's Seedeater (Sporophila ardesiaca) - HBW 16, p. 654

French: Sporophile de Dubois German: Duboispfäffchen Spanish: Semillero de Dubois

Taxonomy: Spermophila ardesiaca A. J. C. Dubois, 1894, 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). Taxonomic status of present species not clearly understood: seems to be very closely related to S. nigricollis, and possibly conspecific, perhaps even a morph; supposed ranges of the two apparently overlap broadly, and they have syntopic breeding distributions; songs reported as essentially identical, suggesting that they are the same species. More research required. Monotypic.

Distribution: SE Brazil in extreme SE Bahia, Espírito Santo, extreme E Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.