- Pyrenestes sanguineus
Identification
13cm Male
- Red body
- Brown on lower belly and wings
- Crimson head
- Crimson tail
- White eyering
- Pale red brown legs
- Short, thick, dark grey bill
Female
- Similar but no red flanks
- Duller breast and nape
Distribution
Western Africa: found in Senegambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Subspecies coccineus is not recognised by most authorities[2].
Habitat
Wetlands, marshes, rivers, moist scrubland.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes seeds, but insects are taken during the breeding season and are fed to the young.
Breeding
The nest is built from reeds. The 3-4 white eggs are incubated by the female for 14 to 15 days.
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
- Avibase
- Rainforest Birds
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Crimson Seedcracker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crimson_Seedcracker
