Abyssinian Crimsonwing
Cryptospiza salvadorii
Small, dark member of the waxbill family. The back is red, the wings and tail black, and the underparts gray. Males and females are similar, though males show a bit of red on the flanks. Found in montane forest, mainly in thick and wet areas such as along streams, including forest edge and glades. Inconspicuous bird that is usually found in pairs or small groups. The call is a high-pitched “tsit.” Similar in size and overall coloration to Red-faced Crimsonwing, but darker, and doesn’t show red or yellow on the face.
Identification
The Abyssinian crimsonwing is a small, shy greyish olive finch with bright crimson wings, mantle, back and rump. It is sexually dimorphic. In the males the head and upper mantle are greyish olive apart from the blackish lores, while the rest of the upper parts, except for the short, rounded, black tail, are deep crimson. The chin is dull yellow and the rest of the underparts are greyish-olive, with some flank feathers having red tips. The bill is black, and the eyes and legs are dark brown. The females is similar to the male, but duller red above and pale olive below. The juveniles are browner above with only patches of red colour. It measures 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in) in length and weighs 10.9–14 g (0.38–0.49 oz).<p>The call of the Abyssinian crimsonwing is a soft "tsip-tsip" which is given when the bird is flushed. The song is the call repeated but with a soft melodic sub-song which is rarely heard.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cryptospiza salvadorii
- Authority
- Reichenow, 1892
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Cryptospiza
Range and habitat
There are currently three recognised subspecies; a fourth C.s. crystallochresta which was described from Challa, in south western Ethiopia has been lumped in to the nominate subspecies. The three subspecies and their distributions are:
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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