Red-billed or black-bellied firefinch, Uganda (1 Viewer)

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BirdingRob

Brit abroad

• Jul 15, 2018

• #1

Seen in Entebbe today.

The eye ring isn't so yellow, the mandible appears pink below and darker-blacker above, there are no white spots on the flanks, the vent is dark entending on to the belly. It doesn't look a great fit for red-billed which I know well.

However, there are apparently two white spots on the forehead (?) and can the vent be other than solid black for black-bellied. I only know black-bellied from books.

All help gratefully received as ever.

Rob

 

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Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jul 15, 2018

• #2

Red-billed, note the eye ring which is absent in Black-bellied.



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BirdingRob

Brit abroad

• Jul 15, 2018

• #3

Balck-bellied has an eye ring. Here is one of many examples
http://www.avitoon.nl/en/exotic-birds/my-birds/black-bellied-firefinch/
Rob

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jul 15, 2018

• #4

The field guide is bad on this then.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 15, 2018

• #5

I do not have a field guide for the area but used HBW alive and the linked IBC. I am curious if it is correct that the color of the undertail coverts excludes Black-bellied? that is my impression from looking at those images.

Niels

 

T

THE_FERN

Well-known member

Opus Editor

• Jul 16, 2018

• #6

Red-billed for me. I think the contrast between upper and lower bill would be much greater for black-bellied, the eye ring weaker (less clear yellow) and the lower belly etc much darker

 

sicklebill

well-known Cretaceous relic

• Jul 16, 2018

• #7

Agreed, Red-billed for me too

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Jul 16, 2018

• #8

It is a usual Red-billed as it is abundant in Entebbe while Black-bellied, that has blacker vent and belly indeed, and longer bill, is at best rare there.

 

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BirdingRob

Brit abroad

• Jul 16, 2018

• #9

Thanks everyone. Red-billed it is.