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Difference between revisions of "Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Alternative names: Yellow-spotted Bush-Sparrow; Abyssinian Yellow-throated Sparrow; Sudan Rock-Sparrow; Sudan Petronia; Yellow-spotted Rock-Sparrow'''
 
;[[: Category:Petronia|Petronia]] pyrgita
 
;[[: Category:Petronia|Petronia]] pyrgita
 
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''Gymnoris pyrgita''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Drab, indistinctly marked bird, narrow, white eye-ring and yellow spot on the throat; the yellow spot is often only visible when the bird is calling and it may be completely absent. Pale sometimes pink bill.
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15 - 16cm.
 
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* Unstreaked ashy-grey to ashy-brown above
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* White ring around eye
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* Dark brown tail
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* Whitish chin and throat
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* Indistinct yellow throat spot, often only visible when the bird is calling or completely absent
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* Greyish breast
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* Dirty white rest of underparts
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* Pinkish-horn bill
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Sexes are similar. Juveniles are browner and have a more conspicuous light buff supercilium.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Across [[Africa]] in the southern outskirts of Sahara, and a little to the south in the eastern side.  
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Patchily distributed in the Sahel south of the Sahara in [[Africa]] and in eastern [[Africa]] south to northern [[Tanzania]].<br />
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Common but local in most of its range.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Two subspecies are recognized, ''pyrgita'' and ''pallida''. Some authorities place this species in genus ''[[: Category:Gymnoris|Gymnoris]]''.
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Two subspecies recongized:
 
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* ''P. p. pallida'' from southern [[Mauritania]] and [[Senegal]] east to [[Sudan]]
Yellow-spotted Petronia was split from [[Yellow-throated Petronia]] and [[Chestnut-shouldered Petronia]].  
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* ''P. p. pyrgita'' in [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Sudan]] and [[Somalia]] and south to [[Uganda]], [[Kenya]] and northern [[Tanzania]]
 
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Some authorities place this species in genus ''[[:Category:Gymnoris|Gymnoris]]''.<br />
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Yellow-spotted Petronia was split from [[Yellow-throated Petronia]] and [[Chestnut-shouldered Petronia]]. <br />
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Dry savanna and dry lowland grassland.
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Dry savanna and dry lowland grassland. Also in cultivation. Occurs up to 1800m.
 
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
They nest in tree cavities.
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Feeds on berries of toothbrush tree, seeds and insects. Forages in trees and on the ground. <br />
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Often seen in pairs or small flocks, also together with small [[:Category:Ploceidae|Weavers]].<br />
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Breeding season June to August in western part of range, March to April in Kenya. The nest is made of hairs, feathers and other soft material. It's placed in a hole in a tree branch or a sand cliff. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.<br />
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A nomadic species.<br />
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Petronia+pyrgita}}
 
{{GSearch|Petronia+pyrgita}}
  
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Petronia]] [[Category:Missing Images]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Petronia]] [[Category:Gymnoris]] [[Category:Missing Images]]

Revision as of 09:48, 25 July 2010

Alternative names: Yellow-spotted Bush-Sparrow; Abyssinian Yellow-throated Sparrow; Sudan Rock-Sparrow; Sudan Petronia; Yellow-spotted Rock-Sparrow

Petronia pyrgita

Gymnoris pyrgita

Identification

15 - 16cm.

  • Unstreaked ashy-grey to ashy-brown above
  • White ring around eye
  • Dark brown tail
  • Whitish chin and throat
  • Indistinct yellow throat spot, often only visible when the bird is calling or completely absent
  • Greyish breast
  • Dirty white rest of underparts
  • Pinkish-horn bill

Sexes are similar. Juveniles are browner and have a more conspicuous light buff supercilium.

Distribution

Patchily distributed in the Sahel south of the Sahara in Africa and in eastern Africa south to northern Tanzania.
Common but local in most of its range.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies recongized:

Some authorities place this species in genus Gymnoris.
Yellow-spotted Petronia was split from Yellow-throated Petronia and Chestnut-shouldered Petronia.

Habitat

Dry savanna and dry lowland grassland. Also in cultivation. Occurs up to 1800m.

Behaviour

Feeds on berries of toothbrush tree, seeds and insects. Forages in trees and on the ground.
Often seen in pairs or small flocks, also together with small Weavers.
Breeding season June to August in western part of range, March to April in Kenya. The nest is made of hairs, feathers and other soft material. It's placed in a hole in a tree branch or a sand cliff. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.
A nomadic species.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

Recommended Citation

External Links

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