African Citril
Crithagra citrinelloides
A small seedeater with a sharp bill and a forked tail. The upperparts are olive-green and the underparts yellow. Males have a black face and plain yellow underparts. Females have a plain face, but are heavily streaked below. Found at middle and high elevations in a variety of habitats including forest edge, gardens, cultivation, moist scrub, and woodland. Usually in small flocks. Similar to Southern Citril, but there is virtually no overlap in range, and the male is easily separated by its black face. The song is a fast jumble of high-pitched twitters and whistles.
Identification
The African citril (Crithagra citrinelloides), also known as the Abyssinian citril, is a species of finch. It is found from Ethiopia and Eritrea to western Kenya. It is closely related to the western and southern citril, to which it was formerly considered conspecific.
Taxonomy
Genus: Crithagra; Family: Fringillidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Crithagra citrinelloides
- Authority
- (Rüppell, 1840)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Crithagra
Range and habitat
This bird was studied in the Degua Tembien massif, and observed to be a breeding resident of woodland edges, scrubland and forest edges.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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A small owlet of lowland and foothill forest interior with intricate barring patterns over most of its body, including the buff-and-black underparts, the gray-and-white head, the rufous back, and the black-and-white wings and tail. Primarily nocturnal, but sometimes calls around first light. Distinctive song is a series of 4-8 trilled hoots.
Chestnut Wattle-eye
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A chunky and short-tailed rainforest wattle-eye. Males are black and white with a very broad black breast band. Females are mostly chestnut with a white belly and a gray head. Both sexes have bluish-purple bare skin around the eye. Found in the understory and at middle levels of rainforest and gallery forest at middle and low elevations. Similar to White-spotted Wattle-eye, but separated by the lack of white spots on the face. The vocalizations are highly variable and consist of repeated notes, which can be clear toots or frog-like notes.
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