Abyssinian crimsonwing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abyssinian crimsonwing |
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| A male photographed in Tanzania | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cryptospiza
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| Species: |
salvadorii
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The Abyssinian crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii) is a beautiful small bird found in eastern Africa. It's also known by other names like the Ethiopian crimsonwing or Salvadori's crimsonwing. This bird is a type of estrildid finch, and it lives across a large area, estimated to be about 190,000 square kilometers (73,000 sq mi).
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Meet the Abyssinian Crimsonwing
The Abyssinian crimsonwing is a small, shy bird. It has a greyish-olive body with bright crimson (deep red) wings, back, and rump.
How Males and Females Look Different
Male and female Abyssinian crimsonwings look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism.
- Males: Their head and upper neck are greyish-olive. They have black patches near their eyes (called lores). The rest of their upper body, except for a short black tail, is a deep crimson color. Their chin is dull yellow, and their belly is greyish-olive. Some feathers on their sides have red tips. Their beak is black, and their eyes and legs are dark brown.
- Females: They look similar to males but have duller red colors on top and lighter olive colors underneath.
- Young Birds: Baby crimsonwings are browner on top and only have patches of red.
These birds are about 10 to 11 centimeters (3.9–4.3 in) long. They weigh between 10.9 and 14 grams (0.38–0.49 oz), which is about the weight of a few paperclips!
What Does It Sound Like?
When an Abyssinian crimsonwing is startled and flies away, it makes a soft "tsip-tsip" sound. Its song is usually this call repeated, but with a quiet, melodic tune that is not often heard.
Where Do Abyssinian Crimsonwings Live?
Abyssinian crimsonwings live in different parts of eastern Africa. There are three main types, or subspecies, of this bird. Each subspecies lives in a specific area.
- Cryptospiza salvadorii salvadorii: You can find this type in Ethiopia and northern Kenya.
- Cryptospiza salvadorii kilimensis: This subspecies lives in southern South Sudan, eastern Uganda, western, central, and southern Kenya, and northern Tanzania.
- Cryptospiza salvadorii ruwenzori: This type is found in the mountains of the Albertine Rift. This area includes eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southwestern Uganda, western Rwanda, and western Burundi.
Life in the Forest
The Abyssinian crimsonwing lives in forests, especially mountain forests. They prefer places where the forest meets open areas or in clearings. They usually stay hidden among the plants close to the ground. Sometimes, they can be seen higher up in climbing plants. They also live in bamboo thickets and dense bushes, especially near water.
Shy and Secretive Birds
These birds are very shy and hard to spot. They get scared easily and quickly hide if they sense danger. This means they might be more common than people think, but they are just good at staying hidden!
They are usually seen alone or in pairs. Sometimes, small family groups are spotted. They mostly eat seeds from grasses and other small plants like Setaria spp (a type of grass), balsam Impatiens spp, and stinging nettles Laportea spp. They might also eat a few insects.
When Do They Have Babies?
Abyssinian crimsonwings have been seen showing breeding behavior in April and August in Ethiopia. In Uganda, they breed in March in Bwindi and in June and November on Mount Elgon. All records show that they breed during dry months, right after the rainy season.
How the Bird Got Its Name
The scientific name of the bird, Cryptospiza salvadorii, and one of its common names, Salvadori's crimsonwing, honor an Italian bird expert. His name was Count Adelardo Tommaso Salvadori Paleotti, known as Tommaso Salvadori.
