Nomdeploom (talk | contribs) |
(completed) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | '''Alternative names: Nyasa Seedcracker; Nyasaland Seedcracker''' | |
;[[: Category:Pyrenestes|Pyrenestes]] minor | ;[[: Category:Pyrenestes|Pyrenestes]] minor | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 13-14 cm. | ||
| + | * Crimson-red head back to hindcrown, rear ear-coverts and down to upper breast | ||
| + | * Brown upperparts and lower breast to belly and undertail-coverts | ||
| + | * Red uppertail-coverts, central rectrices and outer edges of lateral rectrices | ||
| + | * Brown rest of tail | ||
| + | * Dark brown upperwing with tawny edges of coverts | ||
| + | * Dark red to pale grey eyering (broken pale "eyelid" only visible at close range) | ||
| + | * Black bill, brown legs | ||
| + | Females are similar to males but the red on the head is restricted to a patch from the forehead to just behind the eye and to the chin. | ||
| + | Juveniles are plain brown, their uppertail-coverts and uppertail have a dull red wash, the bill is blackish-hornish. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[ | + | From easter [[Tanzania]] to southern [[Malawi]], eastern [[Zimbabwe]] and northern [[Mozambique]].<br /> |
| − | + | A shy and difficult to find species, probably more common than currently thought. | |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species.<br /> | ||
| + | Probably forms a superspecies with [[Crimson Seedcracker]] and [[Black-bellied Seedcracker]] and the three species have been considered conspecific in the past. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Rank growth at the edge of moist montane forest, in rank grass along streams, in secondary growth, reedbeds and bracken briar on mountain slopes.<br /> | ||
| + | Occurs at 100 to 900 m in [[Tanzania]], 500 to 1700 m in [[Malawi]] and up to 1800 m in eastern [[Zimbabwe]]. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Feeds on grass seeds.<br /> | ||
| + | Forages on the ground or at low levels in rank growth. Usually seen in pairs. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | Breeding season from January to May. The nest is a covered oval structure, sometimes with an entrance tunnel. It's made of grass strips, banana leaves and reeds. It's placed 1.5 to 3 m, sometimes higher above the ground or over water. Lays 3 eggs. | ||
| + | ====Movements==== | ||
| + | This is a resident species. Birds in Rusitu-Haroni area in [[Zimbabwe]] are probably migrants as they are mainly summer visitors to the area. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016) | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Pyrenestes+minor}} | {{GSearch|Pyrenestes+minor}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pyrenestes]] [[Category:Missing Images]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pyrenestes]] [[Category:Missing Images]] | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 25 November 2016
Alternative names: Nyasa Seedcracker; Nyasaland Seedcracker
- Pyrenestes minor
Identification
13-14 cm.
- Crimson-red head back to hindcrown, rear ear-coverts and down to upper breast
- Brown upperparts and lower breast to belly and undertail-coverts
- Red uppertail-coverts, central rectrices and outer edges of lateral rectrices
- Brown rest of tail
- Dark brown upperwing with tawny edges of coverts
- Dark red to pale grey eyering (broken pale "eyelid" only visible at close range)
- Black bill, brown legs
Females are similar to males but the red on the head is restricted to a patch from the forehead to just behind the eye and to the chin. Juveniles are plain brown, their uppertail-coverts and uppertail have a dull red wash, the bill is blackish-hornish.
Distribution
From easter Tanzania to southern Malawi, eastern Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique.
A shy and difficult to find species, probably more common than currently thought.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Probably forms a superspecies with Crimson Seedcracker and Black-bellied Seedcracker and the three species have been considered conspecific in the past.
Habitat
Rank growth at the edge of moist montane forest, in rank grass along streams, in secondary growth, reedbeds and bracken briar on mountain slopes.
Occurs at 100 to 900 m in Tanzania, 500 to 1700 m in Malawi and up to 1800 m in eastern Zimbabwe.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on grass seeds.
Forages on the ground or at low levels in rank growth. Usually seen in pairs.
Breeding
Breeding season from January to May. The nest is a covered oval structure, sometimes with an entrance tunnel. It's made of grass strips, banana leaves and reeds. It's placed 1.5 to 3 m, sometimes higher above the ground or over water. Lays 3 eggs.
Movements
This is a resident species. Birds in Rusitu-Haroni area in Zimbabwe are probably migrants as they are mainly summer visitors to the area.
References
- 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/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Lesser Seedcracker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Seedcracker
