Purple Grenadier
Granatina ianthinogaster
A distinctive and attractive waxbill with a deep-blue tail and a red bill. Males are more colorful, with a purple belly, a rufous hood, and purple and red around the eye. Females are mostly rufous with pale blue patches above and below the eye. Found in a variety of savanna and woodland habitats, often in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other species. Gives high-pitched squeaking and rattling calls and a lisping, whistled song.
Identification
The length averages 13.3 cm (5.25 in). All ages and sexes have a black tail, and adults have a red bill. The male has a cinnamon-colored head and neck with a blue patch surrounding the eye. The rump is purplish blue and the underparts are violet-blue with variable rufous patches. The female is smaller and mostly cinnamon brown with white barring on the underparts and silver-blue eyepatches. Juveniles are like females, but mostly unbarred tawny-brown with a reddish-brown bill.<p>The song (in Kenya) is described as "a high, thin chit-cheet tsereea-ee-ee tsit-tsit, or cheerer cheet tsee-tsee sur-chit."
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Granatina ianthinogaster
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1879)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Granatina
Range and habitat
It is found in subtropical and tropical (lowland) dry shrubland in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,500,000 km2. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-fronted Lorikeet
Hypocharmosyna rubronotata
A small, long-tailed lorikeet. Green body with black upper tail, red rump and a red bill. The male has a red forehead, violet-blue cheek and a red patch in front of the shoulder whereas the female has some yellow-streaking behind the eye. Very similar to Red-flanked Lorikeet, but male Red-fronted has a red patch on the forehead rather than chin and has less pronounced yellow wing bar in flight. Voice, a series of sharp, high-pitch, arhythmic “tsik!” notes.
Yellow-throated Bulbul
Pycnonotus xantholaemus
Plain, pale brownish bulbul. Endemic to very specialized habitat in South India. Only found in hills with dry rocky scrub and boulders, co-occurring locally with the more widespread White-browed Bulbul throughout its range. Although both species have a yellow vent and can sound similar, Yellow-throated can be distinguished by its yellow head that contrasts with its whitish underparts. Usually occurring in pairs, it tends to rove along regular circuits, often perching on exposed rocks and boulders. Voice like White-browed’s, but more melodious and higher in pitch.
Stripe-faced Wood-Quail
Odontophorus balliviani
Chunky, dark brown quail of cloud forest and elfin forest. Dark brown body is spotted white below; black bandit mask and reddish crown are distinctive. May be found singly, in pairs, or in small groups. Quite secretive, and often goes undetected until flushed suddenly from nearly underfoot. Forages on the ground, climbing over mossy tree roots and scraping aside leaves with its feet to look for small prey. Listen for its low caroling song given at dusk, an often duetted “dwee-put, dwee-put….”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.