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| - | {{stub}} | + | '''Alternative name: Variable Indigobird''' |
| - | ;Vidua funerea | + | [[Image:23133disky indigobird DB.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male in breeding plumage.<br />Photo by {{user|megan+perkins|megan perkins}}<br />Creighton, [[South Africa]], January 2007]] |
| - | [[Image:23133disky indigobird DB.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by megan perkins<br />Photo taken: Creighton, South Africa.]] | + | ;[[:Category:Vidua|Vidua]] funerea |
| - | | + | |
| | ==Identification== | | ==Identification== |
| | + | Length 11-12 cm, mass 15 g<br /> |
| | + | '''Adult breeding male''': Dull bluish or greenish black; Tail and flight feathers blackish brown. Eyes dark brown, bill white or pale pink, legs and feet orange-red.<br /> |
| | + | '''Adult non-breeding male and adult female''': Head with bold buff and dark brown stripes and back buff, streaked black. Greyish white below, darker on breast and flanks. |
| | + | ====Similar Species==== |
| | + | The southern race can be distiguished from other Indigobirds by the pale bill and orange-red legs and feet. However, the northern race (found north of the Limpopo River) is very similar to the [[Purple Indigobird]]; here it is best distiguished by call. |
| | + | [[Image:2006_1118_Vidua_funerea.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Pietermaritzburg, [[South Africa]]]] |
| | ==Distribution== | | ==Distribution== |
| | + | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]. Discontinuous; [[Malawi]], much of [[Zambia]], eastern [[Zimbabwe]], parts of [[Mozambique]], [[Swaziland]], [[Lesotho]] and eastern [[South Africa]]. There are isolated populations in [[Tanzania]], [[Kenya]], [[Cameroon]] and [[Nigeria]]. |
| | ==Taxonomy== | | ==Taxonomy== |
| - | Also known as Variable Indigobird. | + | ''Vidua funerea'' has two subspecies: |
| | + | *''V. f. funerea'' from eastern [[South Africa]], [[Swaziland]], [[Lesotho]] and [[Mozambique]] south of the Limpopo River; legs and feet orange-red in adult breeding male and pale purplish grey or pale orange in female; and |
| | + | *''V. f. nigerrima'' from eastern [[Zimbabwe]] northwards; slightly smaller than the nominate race; the legs and feet are pale purple in both sexes. |
| | + | [[Image:800bb1aPC024559.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|CollinBax|CollinBax}}<br />Imfolozi, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], December 2009]] |
| | ==Habitat== | | ==Habitat== |
| | + | Woodland, forest edges, grassy rank vegetation, cultivated lands and gardens. |
| | ==Behaviour== | | ==Behaviour== |
| | + | ====Diet==== |
| | + | Forages on bare and sparsely vegetated ground for small seeds. Takes termite aletes in flight. Females and nonbreeding males are inconspicuous, often feeding in mixed-species flocks. |
| | + | ====Breeding==== |
| | + | The Dusky Indigobird is a brood parasite, the host species being the [[African Firefinch]]. |
| | + | ====Vocalisation==== |
| | + | Males are conspicuous in breeding season when they call for long periods from a prominent perch.<br /> |
| | + | Male gives harsh 'chichichichi' call<br /> |
| | + | '''Song''': incorporates both scratchy notes and trills and tinkling phrases from the song of the [[African Firefinch]] (host). |
| | + | ==References== |
| | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}} |
| | + | {{ref}} |
| | ==External Links== | | ==External Links== |
| | {{GSearch|Vidua+funerea}} | | {{GSearch|Vidua+funerea}} |
| | | | |
| - | | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Vidua]] |
| - | [[Category:Birds]] | + | |
Current revision
Alternative name: Variable Indigobird
- Vidua funerea
[edit] Identification
Length 11-12 cm, mass 15 g
Adult breeding male: Dull bluish or greenish black; Tail and flight feathers blackish brown. Eyes dark brown, bill white or pale pink, legs and feet orange-red.
Adult non-breeding male and adult female: Head with bold buff and dark brown stripes and back buff, streaked black. Greyish white below, darker on breast and flanks.
[edit] Similar Species
The southern race can be distiguished from other Indigobirds by the pale bill and orange-red legs and feet. However, the northern race (found north of the Limpopo River) is very similar to the Purple Indigobird; here it is best distiguished by call.
[edit] Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa. Discontinuous; Malawi, much of Zambia, eastern Zimbabwe, parts of Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and eastern South Africa. There are isolated populations in Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon and Nigeria.
[edit] Taxonomy
Vidua funerea has two subspecies:
- V. f. funerea from eastern South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique south of the Limpopo River; legs and feet orange-red in adult breeding male and pale purplish grey or pale orange in female; and
- V. f. nigerrima from eastern Zimbabwe northwards; slightly smaller than the nominate race; the legs and feet are pale purple in both sexes.
[edit] Habitat
Woodland, forest edges, grassy rank vegetation, cultivated lands and gardens.
[edit] Behaviour
Forages on bare and sparsely vegetated ground for small seeds. Takes termite aletes in flight. Females and nonbreeding males are inconspicuous, often feeding in mixed-species flocks.
[edit] Breeding
The Dusky Indigobird is a brood parasite, the host species being the African Firefinch.
[edit] Vocalisation
Males are conspicuous in breeding season when they call for long periods from a prominent perch.
Male gives harsh 'chichichichi' call
Song: incorporates both scratchy notes and trills and tinkling phrases from the song of the African Firefinch (host).
[edit] References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
[edit] External Links
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