Formerly, it included the mainly Central American Sporophila corvina and the west Amazonian S. murallae as subspecies, in which case the combined species had the common name Variable Seedeater.

The underparts are white, except for a broad black pectoral collar (sometimes reduced and incomplete) and blackish mottling to the upper flanks.

The far duller female has a brownish bill, dull buffy-olive upperparts and pale olive-ochre underparts.

As with other Sporophila seedeaters, it mainly feeds on seeds, but has also been observed taking flowers, buds and fruits.

It remains fairly common in Suriname, French Guiana and parts of Brazil, and is therefore considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN.