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Difference between revisions of "Barka Indigobird" - BirdForum Opus

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(Imp sizes. Basic tidy-up. Some extra info. References updated. Incomplete gone)
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{{Incomplete}}
 
 
'''Alternative names: Baka Indigobird, Black-faced Firefinch Indigobird.'''
 
'''Alternative names: Baka Indigobird, Black-faced Firefinch Indigobird.'''
 
;[[:Category:Vidua|Vidua]] larvaticola
 
;[[:Category:Vidua|Vidua]] larvaticola
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Small, estrildid-sized finches, 11-12cm. <br />
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Small, estrildid-sized finches, 10–11 cm (4-4¼ in) <br />
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'''Breeding male:''' mainly black with greenish gloss. Remiges dark brown, bill white, legs pale grey. <br />
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'''Breeding male:''' mainly black with greenish gloss. [[Topography#General Anatomy|remiges]] dark brown, bill white, legs pale grey. <br />
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'''Female/immature/non-breeding male:''' Dull sparrow-like plumage with broad pale supercilia and central crown stripe separated by darker eye- and malar-stripes.
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'''Female/immature/non-breeding male:''' Dull sparrow-like plumage with broad pale [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] and central crown stripe separated by darker eye- and [[Topography#Heads|malar]]-stripes.
 
====Similar Species====
 
====Similar Species====
 
Not safely separable from other indigobird species on sight. Identification dependent on recognition of mimicry of calls of [[Black-faced Firefinch]] (e.g.  "tu-tu-tu-wheeet").
 
Not safely separable from other indigobird species on sight. Identification dependent on recognition of mimicry of calls of [[Black-faced Firefinch]] (e.g.  "tu-tu-tu-wheeet").
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As with host, [[Black-faced Firefinch]], mainly savannah woodland.
 
As with host, [[Black-faced Firefinch]], mainly savannah woodland.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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====Breeding====
 
Brood parasite of [[Black-faced Firefinch]] ''Lagonosticta larvata'', mimicking song of host. Gape pattern of nestlings exhibit remarkable replication of gape pattern of nestlings of host species.
 
Brood parasite of [[Black-faced Firefinch]] ''Lagonosticta larvata'', mimicking song of host. Gape pattern of nestlings exhibit remarkable replication of gape pattern of nestlings of host species.
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====Diet====
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They forage on the ground for small grass seeds.
 
==References==
 
==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Avibase
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Avibase
 
#Davies, NB, 2000, ''Cuckoos, Cowbirds and other Cheats''. London: Academic Press.
 
#Davies, NB, 2000, ''Cuckoos, Cowbirds and other Cheats''. London: Academic Press.
 
#Payne, RB, 2005, ''Nestling mouth markings and colors of old world finches Estrildidae: mimicry and coevolution of nesting finches and their Vidua brood parasites''. Michigan: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
 
#Payne, RB, 2005, ''Nestling mouth markings and colors of old world finches Estrildidae: mimicry and coevolution of nesting finches and their Vidua brood parasites''. Michigan: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
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#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016)
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
  

Revision as of 23:10, 15 November 2016

Alternative names: Baka Indigobird, Black-faced Firefinch Indigobird.

Vidua larvaticola

Identification

Small, estrildid-sized finches, 10–11 cm (4-4¼ in)
Breeding male: mainly black with greenish gloss. remiges dark brown, bill white, legs pale grey.
Female/immature/non-breeding male: Dull sparrow-like plumage with broad pale supercilium and central crown stripe separated by darker eye- and malar-stripes.

Similar Species

Not safely separable from other indigobird species on sight. Identification dependent on recognition of mimicry of calls of Black-faced Firefinch (e.g. "tu-tu-tu-wheeet").

Distribution

Africa
Western Africa: Senegambia, south-eastern Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, northern Democratic Republic of Congo
Eastern Africa: Sudan, western Ethiopia

Taxonomy

Part of the indigobird superspecies complex. Barka Indigobird regarded as monotypic.[1]

Habitat

As with host, Black-faced Firefinch, mainly savannah woodland.

Behaviour

Breeding

Brood parasite of Black-faced Firefinch Lagonosticta larvata, mimicking song of host. Gape pattern of nestlings exhibit remarkable replication of gape pattern of nestlings of host species.

Diet

They forage on the ground for small grass seeds.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Davies, NB, 2000, Cuckoos, Cowbirds and other Cheats. London: Academic Press.
  4. Payne, RB, 2005, Nestling mouth markings and colors of old world finches Estrildidae: mimicry and coevolution of nesting finches and their Vidua brood parasites. Michigan: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
  5. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016)

Recommended Citation

External Links

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