This species is one of two resulting from the split of the former white-collared seedeater.

[2] There are two subspecies: The cinnamon-rumped seedeater is endemic to western Mexico.

It mainly inhabits tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands but can also be found in pastures, arable land, and heavily degraded former forests.

[1] The cinnamon-rumped seedeater eats mainly seeds and insects, and occasionally berries.

It frequently forages on top of herbaceous plants, and less often on the ground.