- Amaurospiza moesta
Identification
12.5cm (5 in). A small, compact Seedeater with a proportionately short tail and small head.
Male
- Small, black triangular bill with slightly curved culmen
- Dark slaty blue plumage, blacker on foreface and underparts
- White wing-linings
- Dark brown eye
Female
- Tawny-brown plumage, slightly paler on underparts
Juveniles undescribed.
Distribution
South America: found locally from south-eastern Paraguay to eastern Brazil and north-eastern Argentina (Misiones).
Rare in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Moist forests and montanes up to 1,600m. Especially in areas where bamboo is common.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on bamboo seeds, other seeds and insects.
Forages 2 to 3 m above the ground, sometimes on the ground. Usually seen singly or in pairs.
Breeding
Breeding season may be timed with bamboo seeding. No other information.
Movements
A resident species. Partly nomadic when searching for seeding bamboo.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2011. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 16: Tanagers to New World Blackbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553781
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Blackish-blue Seedeater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blackish-blue_Seedeater
External Links
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