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[[Image:Red-headed_Finch.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Mybs<br />Photographed in Kgalagadi Transfrontier park, South Africa]] | [[Image:Red-headed_Finch.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Mybs<br />Photographed in Kgalagadi Transfrontier park, South Africa]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 13cm. Males are easily distinguished from the females by the rust red head and more colourful breast pattern. Light fawn body, feathers marked with black bars, chocolate underside, grey tail, white throat with red band on front of neck , brown eyes, pale beak and legs. Female has a grey-brown head and duller underside. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Angola]], [[Botswana]], [[Lesotho]],[[Namibia]], [[South Africa]] and [[Zimbabwe]]. | ||
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Open country with bushes. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | It builds its nest in tree holes or deserted weaver or sparrow nests. 4-8 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents. The pair begin incubation after the second to fourth egg is laid and lasts about 13-14 days. The young fledge after 3 weeks. | ||
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| + | Its diet includes seeds and insects. | ||
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This species has been known to hybridise with the [[Cut-throat]] ''Amadina fasciata'' ([http://www.birdinfo.co.za/landbirds/34_hybrid_red-headed_cut-throat_finch.htm Tarboton, 2007]). | This species has been known to hybridise with the [[Cut-throat]] ''Amadina fasciata'' ([http://www.birdinfo.co.za/landbirds/34_hybrid_red-headed_cut-throat_finch.htm Tarboton, 2007]). | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 17:35, 21 November 2007
- Amadina erythrocephala
Identification
13cm. Males are easily distinguished from the females by the rust red head and more colourful breast pattern. Light fawn body, feathers marked with black bars, chocolate underside, grey tail, white throat with red band on front of neck , brown eyes, pale beak and legs. Female has a grey-brown head and duller underside.
Distribution
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho,Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Open country with bushes.
Behaviour
It builds its nest in tree holes or deserted weaver or sparrow nests. 4-8 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents. The pair begin incubation after the second to fourth egg is laid and lasts about 13-14 days. The young fledge after 3 weeks.
Its diet includes seeds and insects.
This species has been known to hybridise with the Cut-throat Amadina fasciata (Tarboton, 2007).
References
Tarboton W. 2007. Hybrid Red-headed x Cut-throat Finch. http://www.birdinfo.co.za/landbirds/34_hybrid_red-headed_cut-throat_finch.htm. Downloaded 22 October 2007.
