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Drakensberg Siskin - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 21:54, 6 February 2012 by Deliatodd-18346 (talk | contribs) (Photo captions. References)
Serinus symonsi
Male
Photo by Aroberts
Sani Pass, Drakensberg, Lesotho, December 2004

Pseudochloroptila symonsi
Crithagra symonsi

Identification

Length 13-14 cm, mass 11 g
Male: The head and neck are olive-green, streaked brownish, the back is olive-brown, and the rump greenish. The tail is dark brown and white and the wings are brown. The throat and breast are yellow-green and the rest of the underparts are pale brown. The eyes, legs and feet are brown and the bill is brownish horn, the upper mandible being darker than the lower.
Female: Similar to the male, but browner.

This species should not be confused with any other species within its range.

Female
Photo by Alan Manson
Sani Pass, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, South Africa, December 2007

Distribution

Lesotho highlands and adjacent highlands in South Africa.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Placed in genus Crithagra by Gill and Donsker and in Pseudochloroptila by Clements.

Habitat

High-altitude (2000-3000 m) heathlands, shrublands, grasslands and croplands.

Behaviour

Diet

Forages on the ground and in shrubs in pairs or small flocks. Food includes seeds, buds and insects.

References

  1. 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
  2. Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533

Recommended Citation

External Links

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