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| − | + | [[Image:2008_05_18_Male_Swee_5800.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male <br />Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Cavern Resort, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, [[South Africa]]]] | |
| − | + | ;[[:Category:Coccopygia|Coccopygia]] melanotis | |
| − | [[Image: | + | ''Estrilda melanotis''<br /> |
| + | '''Includes: Angola Waxbill''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 9-10 cm, mass | + | Length 9-10 cm, mass 8g<br /> |
| + | '''Adult male''': Black face and upper throat contrasts with grey crown and nape and white lower throat. Breast pale grey and belly pale buff. Bill black above and red below and eyes red.<br /> | ||
| + | '''Adult female''': Similar to the male, but has a pale grey face and white chin and throat.<br /> | ||
| + | '''Juvenile''': Similar to the female, but duller, with a black bill and dark brown eyes. | ||
| + | [[Image:12347DSC_0052_FemaleSwee_Mybs.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Mybs|Mybs}}<br />Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Southern and eastern [[South Africa]], [[Lesotho]], [[Swaziland]] and extreme south-western [[Mozambique]]. There is an isolated population in [[Angola]]. | Southern and eastern [[South Africa]], [[Lesotho]], [[Swaziland]] and extreme south-western [[Mozambique]]. There is an isolated population in [[Angola]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Some authorities consider '' | + | Some authorities consider ''C. melanotis'' to be conspecific with [[Yellow-bellied Waxbill]] (''C. quartinia''). Others believe that Swee Waxbill should be split once more into ''C. melanotis'' from South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland; and ''C. bocagei'' from Angola (Angola Waxbill). Yet others place the subspecies ''bocagei'' in [[Yellow-bellied Waxbill]] (''C. quartinia''). |
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| + | This complex has been placed in the genus [[: Category:Estrilda|Estrilda]]. | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | ||
| + | *''C. m. melanotis'': | ||
| + | :*South-western [[Zimbabwe]] to extreme southern [[Mozambique]] and northern [[South Africa]] | ||
| + | *''C. m. bocagei'': | ||
| + | :*[[Angola]] and [[Namibia]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Forest and plantation edges, bushy vegetation, parks, gardens and farmyards. | Forest and plantation edges, bushy vegetation, parks, gardens and farmyards. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | Does not move long distances, other than local altitudinal migration in some populations. Although fairly confiding, they are easily overlooked as they seldom venture far from dense cover. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | Forages in pairs or small groups on plants and on the ground for seeds and insects. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | Monogamous and territorial. The nest is enclosed and oval with the entrance on the side and near the top. It is built by both sexes using grass. Three to nine eggs are laid in summer (October to April). Parasitised by [[Pin-tailed Whydah]]. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | The common name is derived from the "swee-swee" flight- and contact-call. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | Fry H, Keith S, Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. ''Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings''. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319 | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}#Fry H, Keith S, Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. ''Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings''. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319 |
| − | + | #{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#Avibase | |
| − | + | {{ref}} | |
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch| | + | {{GSearch|Coccopygia+melanotis}} |
| − | [[Category:Birds]] | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Coccopygia]] |
Revision as of 22:39, 12 February 2012
- Coccopygia melanotis
Estrilda melanotis
Includes: Angola Waxbill
Identification
Length 9-10 cm, mass 8g
Adult male: Black face and upper throat contrasts with grey crown and nape and white lower throat. Breast pale grey and belly pale buff. Bill black above and red below and eyes red.
Adult female: Similar to the male, but has a pale grey face and white chin and throat.
Juvenile: Similar to the female, but duller, with a black bill and dark brown eyes.
Distribution
Southern and eastern South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and extreme south-western Mozambique. There is an isolated population in Angola.
Taxonomy
Some authorities consider C. melanotis to be conspecific with Yellow-bellied Waxbill (C. quartinia). Others believe that Swee Waxbill should be split once more into C. melanotis from South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland; and C. bocagei from Angola (Angola Waxbill). Yet others place the subspecies bocagei in Yellow-bellied Waxbill (C. quartinia).
This complex has been placed in the genus Estrilda.
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]
- C. m. melanotis:
- South-western Zimbabwe to extreme southern Mozambique and northern South Africa
- C. m. bocagei:
Habitat
Forest and plantation edges, bushy vegetation, parks, gardens and farmyards.
Behaviour
Does not move long distances, other than local altitudinal migration in some populations. Although fairly confiding, they are easily overlooked as they seldom venture far from dense cover.
Breeding
Forages in pairs or small groups on plants and on the ground for seeds and insects.
Breeding
Monogamous and territorial. The nest is enclosed and oval with the entrance on the side and near the top. It is built by both sexes using grass. Three to nine eggs are laid in summer (October to April). Parasitised by Pin-tailed Whydah.
Vocalisation
The common name is derived from the "swee-swee" flight- and contact-call.
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
- Fry H, Keith S, Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319
- 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
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Swee Waxbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Swee_Waxbill
