From Opus

Urocolius indicus

Photo by jpbirdman

[edit] Identification

34 cm. Pale cinnamon crested head and breast, red bill and eye mask. Blue grey upperparts and tail, pale grey rump, white belly. The sexes are similar, but juveniles lack the crest and have a green mask.

[edit] Distribution

Zaire, Zambia and Tanzania and south to South Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

Urocolius indicus has five subspecies:

• U. c. indicus ;
• U. c. pallidus;
• U. c. lacteifrons;
• U. c. mossambicus; and
• U. c. transvaalensis.

[edit] Habitat

Savanna with thickets, scrub, other open woodland, gardens and orchards.

[edit] Behaviour

Its diet includes fruits, berries, leaves, seeds and nectar.

It builds a cup shaped nest of plant material lined with material such as sheep wool. 2-6 eggs are laid which are incubated for about two weeks.

[edit] External Links