Quailfinch
Ortygospiza atricollis
Distinctive, tiny, short-tailed waxbill. Always shows barred breast and flanks, a red bill, and white edges to the tail. The pattern of the head and back vary across the range; can show a gray head and back (with or without a white spectacles), a brown head and back, or a black head with a brown back. Found in short grassland and other open habitats, usually near water. Inconspicuous on the ground; usually detected in flight. Call is a distinctive “jink”, most often given in flight.
Taxonomy
Previously, three species were recognized, but are now considered subspecies:<p>The locust finch, Paludipasser locustella, is considered a member of this genus by some taxonomists.<p>Two issues are contentious: First, whether the locustfinch should be included here or given its own monotypic genus. Second, the "African quailfinch" complex might comprise one or three (sub)species. The two-taxon arrangement as found in most field guides and used by the IUCN, was recently shown to be based only on a single character (the color of the chin and throat). It is certainly erroneous, being contradicted by all other morphological, behavioral and DNA sequence data.<p>The molecular data would support a two-taxon arrangement with the taxa atricollis and fuscocrissa, but this is not supported by the other data. In conclusion, either gabonensis should be merged back into atricollis, or fuscocrissa should be restored to (sub)species status. Gene flow in the "African quailfinch" complex is still ongoing, and the three lineages therein either form a superspecies, or can be considered a single, wide-ranging and very variable species.
- Scientific name
- Ortygospiza atricollis
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1817)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Ortygospiza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bates's Sunbird
Cinnyris batesi
A very small nondescript sunbird with a short orange-based bill that curves uniformly along its length; easily mistaken for females of other sunbirds. The only features on the olive upperparts are indistinct paler eyebrows and lines running under the eyes, and yellow edging to the wings. Although often hidden, the male has yellow or whitish (not red) tufts at the shoulders. Singles are local and inconspicuous at the edges of lowland and riverine forest, sometimes entering secondary growth; it joins mixed-flocks and is frequently attracted to epiphytes in mossy clumps. Calls a high-pitched “tseeep” and trills. Little Green and Fraser’s sunbirds are similar to Bates’s but brighter, with straighter bills and more distinct yellowish eye-rings; Ursula’s Sunbird has a long decurved bill and grayish face and underparts.
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates furcatus
Unique among storm-petrels in having an entirely silvery-gray plumage. Aside from overall plumage color, look for contrasting dark underwings, dark mask around eye, and deeply forked tail. Breeds on offshore islands across the North Pacific, from Japan to California. Fairly common over cool water, often not far from shore. Found singly or in large flocks, often mixed with other storm-petrels.
Three-streaked Tchagra
Tchagra jamesi
A mostly gray tchagra of dry country. Of the three fine namesake streaks, two run through the eyes and one along the top of the head. The mostly rufous wings and white tail tips are conspicuous in flight. Found in areas of dry savanna and thornscrub with dense undergrowth. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous. Reminiscent of Brown-crowned and Black-crowned Tchagras, but separated by the gray head, which lacks buff eyebrows. The song is a descending series of whistles, often given in a parachuting display flight, similar to the song of Brown-crowned Tchagra, but slightly higher-pitched.
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