From Opus

Uraeginthus ianthinogaster

Photo by mkrijger
Location: Serengeti, Tanzania

[edit] Identification

13.3 cm (5.25 in). The male has a cinnamon head and neck and a blue eyepatch. The rump is purple-blue, underparts are violet-blue with rufous patches. The female is smaller, cinnamon brown with white barring on her underparts, and silver-blue eyepatches. Juveniles are similar to females, unbarred, and have a red-brown bill. All birds have a black tail. The song (in Kenya) is described as a high, thin chit-cheet tsereea-ee-ee tsit-tsit, or cheerer cheet tsee-tsee sur-chit.

[edit] Distribution

Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

[edit] Taxonomy

This species is either monotypic or has five subspecies (depending on which authority): ianthinogaster, ugandae, roosevelti, hawkeri, and rothschildi. Some authorities place this species in genus Granatina.

[edit] Habitat

Subtropical and tropical (lowland) dry shrubland.

[edit] Behaviour

Hard to spot. It forages in undergrowth for grass seeds and those of herbaceous plants. The nest is built by the males, of grass stems and panicles, in a low bush or tree. 3-5 white eggs are laid; both parents incubate for 13 days and the young fledge after 20 days.

[edit] External Links