Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

White-collared Seedeater -- Sporophila torqueola


RANGE: Resident from southern Texas (the Rio Grand Valley north to Webb County), and northern Mexico south to Panama.

STATUS: Rare and irregular in Texas.

HABITAT: Generally prefers open, grassy places including pastures, roadsides, weedy fields, or marshlands covered with tall grasses in the vicinity of low-growing shrubs such as huisache or retaima.

NEST: Builds a delicate cup nest 3 to 5 feet above the ground in crotches of weeds or low shrubs. Frequently nests in abandoned weedy fields, often in giant ragweed.

FOOD: Generally forages among low shrubs and weeds to glean seeds of grasses and forbs; also eats some insects. (Little has been reported on its food habits.)

REFERENCES: Bent 1968a, Oberholser 1974b.


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