# Morelet's Seedeater (*Sporophila morelleti*) Morelet's Seedeater is a small, cheerful bird that loves to eat seeds! It has a lovely song and bright colors that make it easy to spot in the grass. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Morelet's Seedeater](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Semillero_cuelliblanco_-_Sporophila_morelleti%252C_Huauchinango%252C_Puebla%252C_M%C3%A9xico_%289495487043%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Amado Demesa from DF, México, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Semillero_cuelliblanco_-_Sporophila_morelleti%252C_Huauchinango%252C_Puebla%252C_M%C3%A9xico_%289495487043%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Morelet's Seedeater is a small bird with a noticeable difference between males and females. Males boast striking black upperparts, a crisp white collar, and a white wing patch contrasting with a rich rufous-chestnut belly. Females are more subtle, sporting an olive-brown back and buffy underparts. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Thraupidae - **Genus:** Sporophila ## Interesting facts - Males sing complex songs to attract mates from high perches! - Their nests are tiny cups woven into low bushes or grasses. - These tiny birds can eat over 100 seeds in a single day! - They often join mixed-species flocks, making new bird friends! ## Special abilities - **Seed Crusher Beak:** Morelet's Seedeater has a strong cone-shaped bill that helps them efficiently crack open tough grass seeds for food. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Female Morelet's Seedeaters have duller feathers that help them blend into grassy habitats, protecting them and their nest. - **Habitat Adaptability:** Morelet's Seedeaters can thrive in many open habitats, from grasslands to wetlands, letting them find food easily. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-11 cm - **Wingspan:** 15-18 cm - **Weight:** 0.008-0.012 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-3 - **Incubation:** 11-13 days ## Diet & Feeding These small birds primarily munch on seeds, especially tiny grass seeds, for their energy! - **Age differences:** Young birds eat more insects for growth, transitioning to seeds as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Weed seeds, Small insects, Grain seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Bahia Grass (*Paspalum notatum*) — Feeds on the abundant seeds of this common pasture grass. - **Eats:** [Guinea Grass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guinea-grass) (*Panicum maximum*) — Consumes seeds from this widespread tropical forage grass. - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — A swift aerial predator that hunts small songbirds. - **Eats:** Knotroot Foxtail (*Setaria geniculata*) — Relies on the small, nutritious seeds of this common weed. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Morelet's Seedeater? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Morelet's Seedeater? 10-11 cm ### What is Morelet's Seedeater's wingspan? 15-18 cm ### How much does Morelet's Seedeater weigh? 0.008-0.012 kg ### How long does Morelet's Seedeater live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Morelet's Seedeater move? 40 km/h ### What does Morelet's Seedeater eat? These small birds primarily munch on seeds, especially tiny grass seeds, for their energy! ### Where is Morelet's Seedeater usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Fort McIntosh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-mcintosh) — US · Historic Site ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Morelet's Seedeater: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/morelets-seedeater)