This is a male. 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.
