Southern Grosbeak-Canary
Crithagra buchanani
A large seedeater with a very thick pinkish bill. Brownish-olive above and yellow below with streaking along the sides. Males are slightly brighter and have thicker streaking below. Both sexes have a yellow rump that is conspicuous in flight. Found in dry thorn savanna and thorn scrub, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to Brimstone Canary, but distinguished by the notably larger bill, streaked underparts, and yellow rump. The song is twittering, high-pitched, and variable, and can include imitations of other species. The most common call is a sliding “sreeyu.”
Identification
The southern grosbeak-canary, also known as Kenya grosbeak-canary (Crithagra buchanani) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. The southern grosbeak-canary was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the southern grosbeak-canary were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
Taxonomy
Genus: Crithagra; Family: Fringillidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Crithagra buchanani
- Authority
- (Hartert, EJO, 1919)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Crithagra
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Flat-billed Kingfisher
Todiramphus recurvirostris
A compact kingfisher with a comparatively short, shallow, wide bill. Has deep blue wings, a greenish-blue back, and a blue cap with buffy white in front of the eye that narrows above it to form an eyebrow. Underparts washed cinnamon. Found in most habitats, even urban parks and gardens. Local subspecies of Pacific Kingfisher is larger, with a noticeably heavier, thicker bill and much cleaner white underparts. Flat-billed’s voice is a series of short, sharp “kik” notes.
Satin Bowerbird
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
Large plump bowerbird with short bill. Adult males are entirely dark glossy blue-purple color with a pale bill and bright violet eye. Adult females and immatures are primarily green and brown, with blue/pink eyes and scalloped underparts. This species can be quite loud and vocal (screeches, hisses, yowls). It is often encountered in pairs or small groups. Males are well-known for building a large bower decorated with small blue objects. Found in rainforests and wet eucalypt forests of eastern Australia.
Marañon Crescentchest
Melanopareia maranonica
Gorgeous little bird with a small range in the Marañon Valley of northwestern Peru and adjacent border areas of Ecuador (south of Zumba). Note the black mask, white eyebrow and throat, rich chestnut underparts, and white edges to wing feathers. Similar to Elegant Crescentchest, but wings lack chestnut patches and are more strongly marked with white; ranges do not overlap. Marañon Crescentchest inhabits arid scrub where it stays low, often on the ground. Typical song is a series of 20 or more evenly spaced clicks.
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