African quailfinch
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Subspeciesbox
| name = African quailfinch
| image = African quailfinch (36874831052).jpg
| image_caption = O. a. fuscocrissa, male, at Suikerbosrand, South Africa
| status =
| genus = Ortygospiza
| species = atricollis
| subspecies = fuscocrissa
| authority = (Heuglin, 1863)
}}
The African quailfinch, spectacled quailfinch, or white-chinned quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis fuscocrissa), is a common species of estrildid finch found in eastern and southern Africa. Some taxonomists consider it to be conspecific with the black-faced quailfinch and the black-chinned quailfinch, others consider all three species to be conspecific.
Description
The African quailfinch is 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length and weighs 9-14 grams (0.3-0.5 ounces). It is small and compact with dark grey underparts, barred breasts and flanks, and an orange-buff central belly. The feathers around its eye and on its chin are white. Breeding males have a red bill, while the bills of females and non-breeding males have a brown upper mandible and a red lower mandible. The female is paler than the male and has less distinctive barring.{{Cite book|title=Complete Photographic Field Guide Birds of Southern Africa|last=Sinclair|first=Ian|last2=Ryan|first2=Peter|publisher=Struik Nature|year=2009}}
= Voice =
Distribution and ecology
The African quailfinch is found in East and southern Africa.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hbw.com/species/african-quailfinch-ortygospiza-atricollis#Taxonomy|title=African Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis)|website=www.hbw.com |language=en |access-date=2018-02-21}} It inhabits grassland and weedy areas, especially near water. It eats seeds, filamentous algae, insects, and spiders.
Geographical variation
Gallery
Quailfinch 2012 04 25 7680.jpg
Ortygospiza fuscocrissa 2014 11 30.jpg|{{center|male}}
File:Naturalis_Biodiversity_Center_-_RMNH.AVES.160614_1_-_Ortygospiza_atricollis_fuscocrissa_Heuglin,_1863_-_Estrildidae_-_bird_skin_specimen.jpeg|{{center|female skin}}
File:Ortygospiza_fuscocrissa,_nes,_Limpopo,_a.jpg|{{center|nest}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.7. Downloaded from [https://web.archive.org/web/20100821172048/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist]
External links
- Quail Finch/Black-faced quailfinch - [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/852.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2868545}}