Saffron-billed Sparrow

The saffron-billed sparrow's name comes from its "striking orange bill". The adult male's head is mostly black, with a white supercilium from above the eye to the back of the head. The neck is gray and the back, wings, and tail are green. Its underside is white with grayish edges and a narrow black band across the upper chest. The adult female is similar but duller overall. The female's underparts are buffy with brown flanks. Juveniles are similar to the adults but duller. The species' length is from 15 to 16.5 cm (5.9 to 6.5 in). The mean weights of 27 specimens from three populations were from 23.6 to 28.1 g (0.83 to 0.99 oz).

The nominate subspecies of saffron-billed sparrow is found in central and eastern Brazil. The "gray-backed" subspecies is found further south, in central and southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, much of Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. The saffron-billed sparrow primarily inhabits tropical deciduous forest, both primary and second-growth. It is often found near forest edges, interior openings, and along waterways. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 1,400 m (4,600 ft).

Though the saffron-billed sparrow's diet is not well known, it does include fruit, grain, and insects.