- Emberiza tahapisi
Identification
Length 15 cm, mass 15 g. Adult male: Head boldly striped black and white; mantle to upper tail coverts cinnamon with dark brown markings.Tail and flight feathers dark brown, edged cinnamon. Underparts cinnamon. Adult female: Similar to the male, but paler; above less reddish.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Subspecies (Fry et al, 2004): E. t. tahapisi: Sudan, southern Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, south to South Africa. E. t. goslingi: Gambia to Sudan west of the Nile and north-eastrn Zaire. E. t. septemstriata: Sudan east of the Nile and Ethiopia E. t. insularis: Socotra
Habitat
Rocky and eroded areas and croplands, favoring patches of bare soil.
Behaviour
Some birds migrate but patterns of movement are not clear, others are resident. Solitary, in pairs, or in small groups. Forages on the ground for seeds and insects.
References
- Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533
- Fry H, Keith S,Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319
