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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