Alternative name: Lemon-breasted Seedeater
- Crithagra citrinipectus
Serinus citrinipectus
Identification
Length 12 cm, mass 10-13 g.
Adult male: Head dark grey with white markings, nape to back grey-brown with dark brown streaks, rump yellow. Tail and flight feathers dark brown. Throat and upper breast pale lemon yellow, flanks peachy buff, belly white. Bill dark pinkish horn; eyes, legs and feet brown.
Adult female: Similar to the male, but the under parts are buff, with the breast and flanks streaked brown.
Distribution
South-eastern Africa: Southern and central Mozambique, southern Malawi, extreme eastern South Africa and south-eastern Zimbabwe.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Placed in genus Serinus by Clements.
Habitat
Palm savanna, and adjacent woodland and grasslands. Also rural gardens.
Behaviour
Occurs in pairs or flocks. Feeds on the ground, or on low vegetation, for seeds and insects.
Breeding
Probably monogamous and territorial. The nest is built 1-5 m above the ground at the base of a partly opened Lala Palm frond, using plant (mainly Lala Palm) fibres and spiders web. Three eggs are laid December to February, and incubated for 12-14 days.
