Genus Cryptospiza Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Estrildidae Scientific name Cryptospiza salvadorii Higher classification Crimsonwing Order Passerine | |
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Similar Crimsonwing, Red‑faced crimsonwing, Grey‑headed oliveback, Bird, Estrildid finch | ||
The Abyssinian crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii), also known as the Ethiopian crimsonwing, Salvadori's crimsonwing or crimson-backed forest finch, is a common species of estrildid finch found in eastern Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 190,000 km².
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Description
The Abyssinian crimsonwing is a small, shy greyish olive finch with bright crimson wings, mantle, back and rump. It is sexually dimorphic. In the males the head and upper mantle are greyish olive apart from the blackish lores while the rest of the upper parts, except for the short, rounded, black tail are deep crimson. The chin is dull yellow and the rest of the underparts are greyish-olive with some flank feathers having red tips. The bill is black, the eyes and legs are dark brown. The females is similar tp male but duller red above and pale olive below. The juveniles are broner above with only patches of red colour. It measures 10–11 cmin length and weights 10.9-14g.
Voice
The call of the Abyssinian crimsonwing is a soft "tsip-tsip" which is given when the bird is flushed. The song is the call repeated but with a soft melodic sub-song which is rarely heard.
Distribution and subspecies
There are currently three recognised subspecies, a fourth C.s. crystallochresta which was described from Challa, in south western Ethiopia has been lumped in to the nominate subspecies. The three subspecies and their distributions are:
Habitat and habits
The Abyssinian crimsonwing occurs in forest, particularly montane forest, from 1500m to 300m above sea level in Kenya, at the forest edge or in clearings where it normally remains among the undergrowth but sometimes seen higher in creepers, also in bamboo, thickets and dense brush, especially along watercourses.
It is a shy and rather elusive species which is easily alarmed, retreating into cover rapidly at the first indication of a threat. This means that it may be less uncommon than it appears. It is usually observed singly or in pairs but small family parties have been reported. It feeds low down, often within cover, mainly on grass seeds, but other small seeds, such as Setaria spp, balsam Impatiens spp and stinging nettles Laportea spp, are also consumed and it may possibly also catch a few insects.
There are records of Abyssinian crimsonwing showing breeding behaviour from April and August in Ethiopia, while in Uganda it breeds in March at Bwindi and on Mount Elgon it breed in June and November; all records of breeding behaviour in dry months following rains.
Name
The binomial name and the alternative common name, Salvadori's crimsonwing, honour the Italian ornithologist Count Adelardo Tommaso Salvadori Paleotti, known as Tommaso Salvadori.