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.
Taxonomy
- 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
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Stub-tailed Spadebill
Platyrinchus cancrominus
Tiny ‘cute’ flycatcher found in fairly open but shady understory of tropical lowland forest, mainly in humid areas. Appearance is distinctive, with brownish upperparts, striking face pattern, and stubby tail. Can be quite common but easily overlooked. Usually draws attention by its bright, nasal chi-dik or chi-di-dik call, usually given just after a short flight, after which it sits still and is frustratingly difficult to see.
Mountain Avocetbill
Opisthoprora euryptera
Scarce Andean hummingbird with a short, awl-like bill that is upturned at the tip. Mostly green, and streaked with white on the underparts; also note the buff tinge to belly and white spot behind the eye. Similar to female Purple-backed Thornbill, but can be identified by its distinctive bill shape. Inhabits high elevation cloud forest, where it is usually encountered feeding on flowers at forest edge and in clearings.
Pirre Hummingbird
Goldmania bella
Rare and poorly-known hummingbird with extremely limited range near the border of Panama and Colombia. The most distinctive feature on this medium-sized hummingbird is the pale rufous outer tail feathers, present on both males and females. Also note small cinnamon patch on wings. Male has glittering blue-green throat. Female is paler below with a cinnamon wash on throat. Occurs in the foothills and highlands, usually in the lower to middle levels of forest.
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