Order Passeriformes Scientific name Lonchura griseicapilla Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Estrildidae Higher classification Munia | |
 | ||
Genus OdontospizaOberholser, 1905 Similar Munia, Bird, Estrildid finch, Madagascan mannikin, Black‑and‑white mannikin | ||
The grey-headed silverbill (Odontospiza caniceps), also known as pearl-headed mannikin, is a species of estrildid finch found in eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 400,000 km². It is now usually placed in the monotypic genus Odontospiza as Odontospiza caniceps. It is sometimes placed in the genus Lonchura.
Contents
Identification
The grey-headed silverbill is a stocky bird with a grey head studded with white dots. Its body is greyish-brown with partly black wings and tail and a white rump. The juvenile can be told by its white rump.
Adult male is approximately 11.5 cm in length with wing length 6.5 cm.
Habitat
The grey-headed silverbill is commonly found in dry savanna habitat but never too far away from water.
Behavior
The grey-headed silverbill is gregarious, moving in small flocks and often mixing with African silverbill.
Food
The grey-headed silverbill feeds mostly on grass seeds. But it has been suggested that the species also feed on insects which are more a source of moisture than dry seeds.
Movement
The grey-headed silverbill wanders widely, influenced by weather and shifting availability of sources of water.
Origin
Origin and phylogeny has been obtained by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena et al. Estrildinae may have originated in India and dispersed thereafter (towards Africa and Pacific Ocean habitats).
