27 January 2010, Gamboa, Panama

This locality is in the hybrid zone between two subspecies, S. c. hicksii
and S. c. hoffmannii, of the Variable Seedeater. Hicksii ranges to the
east and into South America. It has the most white on the belly and
throat. Hoffmannii has a darker throat and ranges west towards Costa Rica.
This individual is closer to hoffmannii, but has more white on the side of
the neck, suggesting intergradation with hicksii. In the past, birds of
this type, from the hybrid zone have been named S. c. aurita, but that race
is invalid.

This species formerly went under the name S. americana, now split off as
Wing-barred Seedeater, confined to South America. The name S. aurita is an
obsolete synonym for S. corvina.

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held
(no adapter)