Ruddy-breasted seedeater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruddy-breasted seedeater |
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| Male above female below | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sporophila
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| Species: |
minuta
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| Synonyms | |
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Loxia minuta (protonym) |
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The ruddy-breasted seedeater (its scientific name is Sporophila minuta) is a small bird. It belongs to the tanager family, called Thraupidae. You can find this bird in many countries across Central and South America. These include Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Venezuela, among others.
This little bird likes to live in open, grassy areas. Its natural habitats include dry savannas and grasslands that get wet during certain seasons. Sometimes, they even live in areas where forests used to be, but have changed a lot.
About the Ruddy-breasted Seedeater
The ruddy-breasted seedeater is known for its pretty colors. The males often have a reddish-brown chest, which is how they got their name. Females usually have more plain, brownish feathers.
These birds are often seen eating seeds, which is why they are called "seedeaters." They use their strong beaks to crack open different kinds of seeds.
How Scientists Name Animals
Scientists use a special system to name all living things. This system is called binomial nomenclature. It gives every animal and plant a unique two-part scientific name.
The ruddy-breasted seedeater was first officially described by a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus. He did this in 1758 in his famous book, Systema Naturae. He gave it the name Loxia minuta. The word minuta comes from Latin and means "little" or "small."
Later, scientists decided to place this bird in the genus Sporophila. This genus was created by a German scientist named Jean Cabanis in 1844.
Different Types of Ruddy-breasted Seedeaters
Even within the same species, there can be slight differences depending on where the birds live. Scientists call these different groups "subspecies." For the ruddy-breasted seedeater, there are three main subspecies:
- S. m. parva: Found in places like southwest Mexico and Nicaragua.
- S. m. centralis: Lives in southwest Costa Rica and southern Panama.
- S. m. minuta: This is the original type, found in Trinidad, Tobago, and northern South America.
