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Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 Description  



1.1  Voice  







2 Distribution and ecology  





3 Geographical variation  





4 Gallery  





5 References  





6 External links  














African quailfinch






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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 


African quailfinch
O. a. fuscocrissa, male, at Suikerbosrand, South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Ortygospiza
Species:
Subspecies:
O. a. fuscocrissa
Trinomial name
Ortygospiza atricollis fuscocrissa

(Heuglin, 1863)

The African quailfinch, spectacled quailfinch, or white-chinned quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis fuscocrissa), is a common species of estrildid finch found in eastern and southern Africa. Some taxonomists consider it to be conspecific with the black-faced quailfinch and the black-chinned quailfinch, others consider all three species to be conspecific.

Description

[edit]

The African quailfinch is 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length and weighs 9-14 grams (0.3-0.5 ounces). It is small and compact with dark grey underparts, barred breasts and flanks, and an orange-buff central belly. The feathers around its eye and on its chin are white. Breeding males have a red bill, while the bills of females and non-breeding males have a brown upper mandible and a red lower mandible. The female is paler than the male and has less distinctive barring.[1]

Voice

[edit]

It calls a tinny "chink-chink" when in flight.[1]

Distribution and ecology

[edit]

The African quailfinch is found in East and southern Africa.[2] It inhabits grassland and weedy areas, especially near water. It eats seeds, filamentous algae, insects, and spiders.[1][2]

Geographical variation

[edit]

When considered a full species, the following geographical variation has been accepted:[2]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2009). Complete Photographic Field Guide Birds of Southern Africa. Struik Nature.
  • ^ a b c "African Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis)". www.hbw.com. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  • [edit]



    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_quailfinch&oldid=1179864251"

    Categories: 
    Ortygospiza
    Birds of Africa
    Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa
    Birds described in 1863
    Birds of East Africa
    Taxa named by Theodor von Heuglin
    Hidden categories: 
    Articles with short description
    Short description matches Wikidata
    Articles with 'species' microformats
     



    This page was last edited on 12 October 2023, at 23:13 (UTC).

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