Lesser Seedcracker
Pyrenestes minor
A colorful, chunky waxbill with a large conical bill. Both sexes have a red hood and tail, but females have slightly less extensive red. Found in moist habitats with dense understory, including forest edge, areas along streams, and occasionally reedbeds. Scarce, shy, and inconspicuous. Somewhat similar to Red-headed Bluebill, but separated by many details, including the red tail. The calls include rough “drek” notes that may be given in a long, fast series.
识别特征
The lesser seedcracker grows to a length of about 14 cm (5.5 in). The male plumage is brown tinged with olive, apart from the forehead, crown, side of face, chin, throat and upper breast which are bright red, and the rump and central tail feathers which are deep blood red. The underparts are paler than the upper parts. The female is similar but has a smaller area of red on the face and crown. The short, broad beak is black, the brown eye is surrounded by a white eye ring, and the legs are greyish-brown or dark grey. The juvenile is similar to the adults but the colours are more muted. This species could be confused with the black-bellied seedcracker but the two species do not share a common range.
分类信息
- 学名
- Pyrenestes minor
- 命名信息
- Shelley, 1894
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Estrildidae
- 属
- Pyrenestes
分布与栖息地
This is a resident but somewhat uncommon species and occurs in southern Tanzania, eastern Zimbabwe, southern Malawi and northern Mozambique. It is found in upland forests, at altitudes of between 725 and 1,800 m (2,400 and 5,900 ft), both in high rainfall areas and in forest margins in drier areas, in Brachystegia woodland, clearings, scrubby areas and areas of rank vegetation, often near watercourses.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
The lesser seedcracker is a mostly resident species, but is a partial migrant in eastern Zimbabwe. It usually forages in pairs low in the undergrowth, or sometimes on the ground, feeding on grass and other seeds, including rice and the large hard seeds of the bamboo Olyra latifolia. Breeding takes place between December and March in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and between March and May in Mozambique.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- stable
照片
分布
其他鸟类
Kauai Elepaio
Chasiempis sclateri
A small flycatcher of forested habitats on Kauai. Adults have a gray back and white wingbars, while immatures are reddish brown with buffy wingbars. Common in native forest at higher elevations. Bold and curious; not afraid of people and may follow hikers. Often holds tail cocked up at an angle. Male song consists of two notes that rise and fall and have a squeaky, rubber ducky quality. Both sexes give a variety of soft calls and scolding notes. Responds to pishing and squeaking.
Choco Vireo
Vireo masteri
Rare vireo found only in lush Andean cloud forest in northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia. In contrast to the much more common Brown-capped Vireo, it has pale wingbars and may show an ochraceous wash on the throat and breast. Often accompanies mixed-species flocks high in the canopy, where it can be hard to see well. Song is a quick series of sweet-sounding notes that vary in pitch unpredictably.
Black-bellied Thorntail
Discosura langsdorffi
Tiny, coquette-like hummingbird. Males are iridescent emerald green with a black belly, bold white rump band, short crest, and long, straight tail feathers. Females are similar, but are duller below with a shorter tail. Compared to the similar Festive Coquette, females have darker plumage. Usually found in mature rainforest, where it forages at flowering trees at all levels of the forest.
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