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(Picture of female. Taxonomy amended. References updated. Video link) |
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| − | [[Image:Yellow_Canary.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by Mybs <br /> | + | [[Image:Yellow_Canary.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Mybs|Mybs}} <br />Blouvlei Wetlands near Cape Town, [[South Africa]], August 2005]] |
;[[:Category:Serinus|Serinus]] flaviventris | ;[[:Category:Serinus|Serinus]] flaviventris | ||
''Crithagra flaviventris'' | ''Crithagra flaviventris'' | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 13-14 cm, 13-21 g | + | Length 13-14 cm, 13-21 g<br /> |
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'''Adult male''' (''S. f. flaviventris''): Forehead, eyebrows and cheeks yellow; crown, nape and mantle olive green with brown flecks. The eye-stripes, ear-coverts and sides of the neck are olive-khaki, and the malar stripes are olive-green. The back is olive-khaki and the rump and upper tail coverts greenish yellow. The tail and wings are dusky brown, feathers edged green or yellow. The underparts are a rich yellow; greenish yellow on the breast and greyish-yellow on the flanks. Bill horn with a pinkish base; eyes, legs and feet brown. | '''Adult male''' (''S. f. flaviventris''): Forehead, eyebrows and cheeks yellow; crown, nape and mantle olive green with brown flecks. The eye-stripes, ear-coverts and sides of the neck are olive-khaki, and the malar stripes are olive-green. The back is olive-khaki and the rump and upper tail coverts greenish yellow. The tail and wings are dusky brown, feathers edged green or yellow. The underparts are a rich yellow; greenish yellow on the breast and greyish-yellow on the flanks. Bill horn with a pinkish base; eyes, legs and feet brown. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:2008 11 16 FeYellowCanary 7082.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Black Mountain Pass, eastern [[Lesotho]], November 2008]] | |
'''Adult female''': Duller than the male; crown, nape, mantle and back are pale greyish olive, streaked brown; eye-stripes, ear-coverts and malar stripes greyish olive; eye-brows and lower cheeks buffy white. Rump and upper tail coverts yellowish olive. Throat, breast and flanks buffy white with brown streaks. | '''Adult female''': Duller than the male; crown, nape, mantle and back are pale greyish olive, streaked brown; eye-stripes, ear-coverts and malar stripes greyish olive; eye-brows and lower cheeks buffy white. Rump and upper tail coverts yellowish olive. Throat, breast and flanks buffy white with brown streaks. | ||
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====Similar species==== | ====Similar species==== | ||
The [[Yellow-fronted Canary]] has a more brightly contrasting yellow rump, duller yellow underparts, a white-tipped tail, and is smaller. [[Brimstone Canary]] is larger with a heavier bill and green (not yellow) forehead; more green overall. [[White-throated Canary]] is similar to the female [[Yellow Canary]], but larger, has a heavier bill, is less streaked, and the yellow-green rump contrasts more with the greyish-brown back and mantle. | The [[Yellow-fronted Canary]] has a more brightly contrasting yellow rump, duller yellow underparts, a white-tipped tail, and is smaller. [[Brimstone Canary]] is larger with a heavier bill and green (not yellow) forehead; more green overall. [[White-throated Canary]] is similar to the female [[Yellow Canary]], but larger, has a heavier bill, is less streaked, and the yellow-green rump contrasts more with the greyish-brown back and mantle. | ||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | Southern [[Africa]]: [[Lesotho]], [[South Africa]], [[Botswana]], [[Namibia]] and south-western [[Angola]]. | ||
| − | + | Introduced to the island of [[St. Helena]]. | |
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | There are four subspecies:<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup> | + | Placed in genus [[:Category:Crithagra|Crithagra]] by Gill and Donsker. |
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | There are four subspecies:<sup>[[#References|1]],[[#References|2]]</sup> | ||
*''S. f. flaviventris'' | *''S. f. flaviventris'' | ||
| − | :*Western and southern South Africa and southern Namibia | + | :*Western and southern [[South Africa]] and southern [[Namibia]] |
*''S. f. marshalli'' | *''S. f. marshalli'' | ||
| − | :*Highveld (high-altitude plateau) of east-central South Africa and lowlands of western Lesotho | + | :*Highveld (high-altitude plateau) of east-central South Africa and lowlands of western [[Lesotho]] |
:*Male has lemon-chrome rump and underparts and greenish-tellow crown. | :*Male has lemon-chrome rump and underparts and greenish-tellow crown. | ||
*''S. f. damarensis'' | *''S. f. damarensis'' | ||
| − | :*North-central South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and south-western Angola | + | :*North-central South Africa, [[Botswana]], Namibia and south-western [[Angola]] |
:*Yellower upperparts than nominate, face markings less contrasting, and rump lemon-chrome. | :*Yellower upperparts than nominate, face markings less contrasting, and rump lemon-chrome. | ||
*''S. f. guillarmodi'' | *''S. f. guillarmodi'' | ||
:*Lesotho highlands | :*Lesotho highlands | ||
:*Larger than nominate; broader dark centres to crown and back feathers. Female: The sides of the face are darker grey than the nominate, and the throat and breast more heavily striped. | :*Larger than nominate; broader dark centres to crown and back feathers. Female: The sides of the face are darker grey than the nominate, and the throat and breast more heavily striped. | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Shrublands, semi-arid savanna, fynbos. Also thickets of alien ''Acacia'', gardens, dune vegetation, coastal wetlands and beaches with seaweed. | Shrublands, semi-arid savanna, fynbos. Also thickets of alien ''Acacia'', gardens, dune vegetation, coastal wetlands and beaches with seaweed. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Conspicuous; in flocks when not breeding, sometimes with other granivores. Forages on the ground and in forbs and shrubs, eating flowers, seeds, nectar, insects and small crustaceans. | + | Conspicuous; in flocks when not breeding, sometimes with other granivores. |
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Forages on the ground and in forbs and shrubs, eating flowers, seeds, nectar, insects and small crustaceans. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
Monogamous and probably territorial. The nest is built by the female in as little as three days using a variety of plant material. Two to five eggs are laid and incubated for 12-16 days by the female. | Monogamous and probably territorial. The nest is built by the female in as little as three days using a variety of plant material. Two to five eggs are laid and incubated for 12-16 days by the female. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}#{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}} |
| − | + | {{ref}} | |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Serinus+flaviventris}} | {{GSearch|Serinus+flaviventris}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{Video|Yellow_Canary}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Serinus]] [[Category:Crithagra]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Serinus]] [[Category:Crithagra]] [[Category:Videos]] |
Revision as of 23:11, 21 January 2012
- Serinus flaviventris
Crithagra flaviventris
Identification
Length 13-14 cm, 13-21 g
Adult male (S. f. flaviventris): Forehead, eyebrows and cheeks yellow; crown, nape and mantle olive green with brown flecks. The eye-stripes, ear-coverts and sides of the neck are olive-khaki, and the malar stripes are olive-green. The back is olive-khaki and the rump and upper tail coverts greenish yellow. The tail and wings are dusky brown, feathers edged green or yellow. The underparts are a rich yellow; greenish yellow on the breast and greyish-yellow on the flanks. Bill horn with a pinkish base; eyes, legs and feet brown.
Adult female: Duller than the male; crown, nape, mantle and back are pale greyish olive, streaked brown; eye-stripes, ear-coverts and malar stripes greyish olive; eye-brows and lower cheeks buffy white. Rump and upper tail coverts yellowish olive. Throat, breast and flanks buffy white with brown streaks.
Similar species
The Yellow-fronted Canary has a more brightly contrasting yellow rump, duller yellow underparts, a white-tipped tail, and is smaller. Brimstone Canary is larger with a heavier bill and green (not yellow) forehead; more green overall. White-throated Canary is similar to the female Yellow Canary, but larger, has a heavier bill, is less streaked, and the yellow-green rump contrasts more with the greyish-brown back and mantle.
Distribution
Southern Africa: Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and south-western Angola.
Introduced to the island of St. Helena.
Taxonomy
Placed in genus Crithagra by Gill and Donsker.
Subspecies
- S. f. flaviventris
- Western and southern South Africa and southern Namibia
- S. f. marshalli
- Highveld (high-altitude plateau) of east-central South Africa and lowlands of western Lesotho
- Male has lemon-chrome rump and underparts and greenish-tellow crown.
- S. f. damarensis
- S. f. guillarmodi
- Lesotho highlands
- Larger than nominate; broader dark centres to crown and back feathers. Female: The sides of the face are darker grey than the nominate, and the throat and breast more heavily striped.
Habitat
Shrublands, semi-arid savanna, fynbos. Also thickets of alien Acacia, gardens, dune vegetation, coastal wetlands and beaches with seaweed.
Behaviour
Conspicuous; in flocks when not breeding, sometimes with other granivores.
Diet
Forages on the ground and in forbs and shrubs, eating flowers, seeds, nectar, insects and small crustaceans.
Breeding
Monogamous and probably territorial. The nest is built by the female in as little as three days using a variety of plant material. Two to five eggs are laid and incubated for 12-16 days by the female.
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
- 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
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Yellow Canary. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow_Canary
External Links
