From Opus

This article is incomplete. This article is missing one or more sections. You can help the BirdForum Opus by expanding it.

Estrilda melpoda

Photo by dicon
Location: Ribera de Huelva, Seville, Spain (presumed feral population)

[edit] Identification

Red beak, orange "cheeks" which extend over the eyes, dark blue-grey on top of head, light grey under chin, light brown-grey chest, cream lower belly, dark brown back and wings, crimson tail coverts, black tail, yellow streak across the vent area (creamy yellow in hens, deep yellow-orange in cocks). Juveniles look like the adults but with subdued markings.

[edit] Distribution

Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Zambia.

[edit] Taxonomy

Estrilda melpoda has two subspecies:¹

• E. m. melpoda
• E. m. tschadensis

[edit] Habitat

Dry savanna and subtropical/tropical (lowland) wet shrubland habitats.

[edit] Behaviour

Timid, nervous, energetic, may be a little aggressive while breeding. The song is a light jingling of notes and may vary among individuals.

[edit] References

1. Clements JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

[edit] External Links