- Linurgus olivaceus
Identification
12 - 13cm (4¾-5¼ in). A small to medium-sized brightly coloured finch.
Male
- Black head, including chin and throat
- Bright yellow nape and lower side of neck
- Yellowish-green lower nape to back, scapulars and lesser and median upperwing-coverts
- Yellow lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts
- Blackish greater upperwing-coverts
- Golden yellow underparts with an orange tinge on upper breast (only in nominate) and greenish on flanks
- Conical, bright orange-yellow bill
Female
- Much duller than male
- Dull grey to olive-green head
- Dull greenish-olive upperparts
- Greenish or yellowish-greenish underparts
Juveniles are similar to females.
Distribution
Locally in mountains of Western and Eastern Africa.
Generally uncommon in its range.
Taxonomy
This species might be split in the future, however more detailed analysis of all populations is needed.
Subspecies
Four subspecies recognized[1]:
- L. o. olivaceus in the mountains of southeast Nigeria and Cameroon. Also on Bioko Island.
- L. o. prigoginei in montane forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
- L. o. elgonensis in South Sudan (Imatog Mountains) to Kenya highlands
- L. o. kilimensis in the highlands of Tanzania to northern Malawi
Habitat
In undergrowth of montane evergreen forest and cloudforest from 1700 to 3000m. Also in damp riverine forest, eucalypt plantations, ravines, thickets, gardens, areas of long grass and scrub.
Behaviour
A shy and restless species, usually seen alone, in pairs or small groups.
Diet
Feeds on seeds. Also seen to take algae and ocasionally caterpillars.
Forages low in the undergrowth or to middle or canopy level of cloudforest.
Breeding
Breeding season from November to February. A solitary and monogamous species. The nest is an untidy cup mad of moss, lichens, plant fibres and plant down. It's placed in a bush within 1.5m from the ground. Lays 2 to 3 eggs.
Movements
Resident in some places, a partial migrant in others. Some high-elevation breeders wander to lower levels in non-breeding season.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2010. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 15: Weavers to New World Warblers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553682
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Oriole Finch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Oriole_Finch
