Red-faced Pytilia
Pytilia hypogrammica
An unusual and pretty member of the waxbill family. Shows fine buff barring below, mostly yellow wings, and red on the rump and tail. Males have a red face and females an entirely gray head. Found in moist broadleaf woodland, overgrown cultivation, and thickets, often along rivers. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous, seen singly or in pairs. Sometimes joins flocks with other birds. Similar to Green-winged and Red-winged Pytilias, but separated by the yellow wing. The call is a simple “teew” note.
Identification
An unusual and pretty member of the waxbill family. Shows fine buff barring below, mostly yellow wings, and red on the rump and tail. Males have a red face and females an entirely gray head. Found in moist broadleaf woodland, overgrown cultivation, and thickets, often along rivers. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous, seen singly or in pairs. Sometimes joins flocks with other birds. Similar to Green-winged and Red-winged Pytilias, but separated by the yellow wing. The call is a simple “teew” note.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pytilia; Family: Estrildidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Pytilia hypogrammica
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1870
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Pytilia
Range and habitat
The finch has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 250,000 km2. It is commonly found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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