Seed-Eaters

[laurab]

I have had many a conversation with Paul about birds and he has often referred to his 'seed-eaters'.

My finches (Hecks, Jacarini, Bengalese etc) are seed-eaters, so are they classed as seed-eaters too? :confused:

[dave85]

yes the birds you listed are seedeaters,

The term seedeater - refers to the principle diet a bird eats.

so most waxbills are Insectivores cause the highest percentage consists of insects and Fruitivorus means primarily fruit diet.

But the terms dont mean they wont eat other feedstuffs.

Thanks
Dave

[kenny]

hi laura
a few more seed eaters

doves
quail
buntings
cardinals
most british finches
weavers whydahs and most foreign
are all classed as seed eaters
ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

Kenny has mentioned most of the birds commonly refered to as being Seedeaters, I think he only missed one Family, the various Sparrows.:D

But the Seedeaters you have heard me mentioning are the Sporophila Seedeaters from South America, there are also Catamenia and Dolospingus Seedeaters again from South America and maybe other Families that I am unaware of?

Sporophila, Catamenia and Dolospingus are the scientific names of these birds, but they all share the common name of Seedeater, such as Black and White Seedeater - Sporophila Luctuosa, Band Tailed Seedeater - Catamenia Analis and White Naped Seedeater - Dolospingus Fringilloides.

But it becomes even more confusing when there are African birds that also share the common name of Seedeater, the Serinus species also have the common name of Finch, Canary, Serin, Siskin, Citril and Seedeater.:roll:

Paul.;)

[kenny]

hi paul
thanks mate for completing the list for me .i knew there where a few more but i could not remember all of them .......i do know that there is a lot under the same species which should be really made less generalised all coming under the name seed eater!

ken