27 January 2010, Old Gamboa Road, Summit, Panama

The Ruddy-breasted Seedeater ranges from Mexico into South America. Three
subspecies are recognized. This is S. m. centralis which is confined to
the Pacific slope of Panama and Costa Rica. At this location it was
greatly outnumbered by the more common Yellow-bellied Seedeater.

According to Wetmore, S. m. centralis differs from the nominate race
widespread in South America by its browner (less gray) upperparts and its
paler (less deep chestnut) underparts. However, the ranges of these two
subspecies is unclear. Wetmore advocated expanding the range of S. m.
centralis south as far as Ecuador but nominate S. m. minuta is quite
variable with brown and gray morphs and considerable age variation.
Clements restricts S. M. centralis to Panama and Costa Rica.

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