Variable Seedeater

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Panama City

In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%

2,050 Verified sightings at Panama City
35,769 In all 38 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Variable Seedeater

The variable seedeater (Sporophila corvina) is a passerine bird which breeds from southern Mexico through Central America to the Chocó of northwestern South America. The taxonomy is confusing, and it was formerly considered a subspecies of Sporophila americana (see Taxonomy). Even within the variable seedeater as presently defined, there are great variations in plumage.

The variable seedeater is a small, robust bird with a black conical bill. It is 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long and weighs 11 g (0.39 oz). Adult males are entirely black apart from a small white wing-speculum and white wing linings.

Males resemble males S. c. corvina, but with white half-collar, rump and belly (the rump often intermixed with grey and the flanks retain some black mottling or barring). Males resemble S. c... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:30

Ecuador · 2025

© Charlie Vogt · XC1039474 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song0:20

Ecuador · 2020

© Manuel Sanchez-Nivicela · XC951700 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Begging call0:15

Ecuador · 1996

© Olaf Jahn · XC262688 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~60%
2 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~50%
3 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~50%
4 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~50%
5 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
6 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
7 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~40%
8 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
~40%
9 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
10 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
11 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
12 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
13 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~30%
14 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
15 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
16 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
17 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
18 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
19 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
20 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~20%
21 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
22 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
23 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
24 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
25 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
26 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
27 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
28 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
29 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
30 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
31 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
33 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
34 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
35 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
36 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
37 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
38 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Panama City 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
2 Guayaquil 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~20%
3 San Pedro Sula 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
4 San José 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Variable Seedeater in Panama City?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Seedeater sighting in Panama City on a given day, based on 2,050 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 27th most-seen of the 363 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Variable Seedeater in Panama City?

July

In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Seedeater in Panama City on a given day, against about 20% in March and November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Variable Seedeater?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Variable Seedeater sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Panama City the best place to see a Variable Seedeater?

Yes

Of the 4 cities where we can rate Variable Seedeater sightings, Panama City has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Guayaquil (Ecuador, about 20%) and San Pedro Sula (Honduras, under 5%).

Where does the Variable Seedeater sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Variable Seedeater is recorded against all the birds logged in Panama City (2,050 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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