Sporophila pileata
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
The pearly–bellied seedeater (Sporophila pileata) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It was lumped with the copper seedeater (S. bouvreuil) and known together as the capped seedeater before being split in February 2012.
It is found in southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. Like other capuchinos, which is the term used for them in Spanish, the pearly-bellied seedeater faces significant population declines. These declines are attributed to illegal trapping for the pet trade and the conversion of grasslands for agricultural purposes, leading to habitat loss.
South American Classification Committee (February 8, 2012). "Proposal (#502) to South American Classification Committee – Split Sporophila pileata from S. bouvreuil". Archived from the original on April 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
Freitas M., Medolago C., Costa M., et al. (2018). First description of nests, eggs, and nestlings of the Pearly-bellied Seedeater ( Sporophila pileata ). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology., 130(3), 823–828. Machado, E. & Silveira, L.F. (2010) Geographical and seasonal distribution of the Seedeaters... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serra da Canastra National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Emas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Iberá National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Pearly-bellied Seedeater sighting in Emas National Park on a given day, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 147th most-seen of the 187 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Pearly-bellied Seedeater in Emas National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May to September, the lowest months. That is one of Emas National Park's wettest months, with about 170 mm of rain against almost none in July. April and December–February have too few records to rate.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Pearly-bellied Seedeater sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Pearly-bellied Seedeater sightings, Emas National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Serra da Canastra National Park (Brazil, about 10%).
Same genus: Sporophila
The closest relatives of the Pearly-bellied Seedeater that you can see in Emas National Park (genus Sporophila, Typical Seedeaters and Seed-Finches) are Plumbeous Seedeater (about 60%), Double-collared Seedeater (about 10%) and Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Pearly-bellied Seedeater is recorded against all the birds logged in Emas National Park (16 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
