Caquetá seedeater
The Caquetá seedeater ("Sporophila murallae") is a passerine bird from the western Amazon Basin in south-eastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, north-eastern Peru and far western Brazil (western Acre and Amazonas only). The status in south-eastern Peru is unclear. Together with the mainly Central American "S. corvina", it was formerly considered a subspecies of "S. americana", in which case the common name for the combined species was variable seed eater. Following the split, this common name is now restricted to "S. corvina". Description. It has a total length of approximately . Adult males have a relatively heavy black  bill. The upper parts are black, except for a greyish rump (actually white finely streaked black, but only visible up-close), a white wing-bars and a small white wing-speculum. The underparts are white, except for an irregular black chest-band (often incomplete) and greyish mottling to the flanks. Some individuals show a black malar. The far duller female has a brownish bill, dull buffy-olive upper parts and pale olive-ochre underparts. Juveniles resemble adult females. Ecology. Found in humid open or semi-open grassy areas and shrub; especially along edges of rivers or lakes. Usually seen in  pairs or small flocks. As other "Sporophila" seedeaters, it mainly feeds on seeds, but has also been recorded feeding on stems, leaves and fruits (e.g. "Cecropia"). It was only recently accepted as a species distinct from "S. corvina" and "S. murallae" by the South American Classification Committee, and its status was first evaluated for the IUCN Red List in 2008, being listed as Species of Least Concern. It is fairly common throughout a large part of its range, and is likely to benefit from the widespread forest-clearance within its range. Overall, it in not threatened, but the capture for  the wild bird trade could present a problem in the future (as is known from several other "Sporophila" seedeaters).