Lemon-breasted canary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lemon-breasted canary |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Crithagra |
| Species: |
C. citrinipectus
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| Binomial name | |
| Crithagra citrinipectus (Clancey & Lawson, 1960)
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| Synonyms | |
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Serinus citrinipectus |
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The lemon-breasted canary (Crithagra citrinipectus) is a small, colorful bird. It is also known as the lemon-breasted seedeater. This bird is a type of finch and belongs to the family Fringillidae. You can find it in countries like Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These canaries usually live in dry savannah areas, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and even in gardens in the countryside.
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About the Lemon-breasted Canary
The lemon-breasted canary was first identified as a new species in 1960. Two scientists, Clancey and Lawson, discovered it. They found a special bird near Panda in southern Mozambique.
Scientists use special tests to understand how birds are related. These tests showed that the lemon-breasted canary is quite different from some other canaries. Because of this, it was moved to a new group, or genus, called Crithagra. Before, it was in the Serinus group. Some people even thought it might be a mix of two other canary types!
What Does a Lemon-breasted Canary Look Like?
It's easy to tell the difference between male and female lemon-breasted canaries. Only the males have bright yellow feathers on their chest. This is where they get their name!
Female canaries have mostly cream and brown feathers. Their head markings are not as clear as the males'. Both male and female birds have bright yellow feathers around their tail. Their beaks are two colors: the top part is a darker brown or black, and the bottom part is lighter.
Male canaries also have white and yellow patches on their cheeks. They have two small yellow and white dots above their beaks. Young canaries, called nestlings, have yellow edges on their beaks. While there are no different types of this canary, birds from different areas might look a little bit different.
Where Do Lemon-breasted Canaries Live?
You can find these finches in specific parts of southeastern Africa. This includes Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zululand, South Africa, and Zambia.
Even though they live in a small area and their total numbers are slowly going down, scientists consider them a species of "least concern." This means they are not in immediate danger of disappearing. Their total population is much larger than the number that would make them "vulnerable." These birds live and breed over a large area, about 49,800 square kilometers.
Home and Habits of the Canary
Lemon-breasted canaries live in southeastern Africa, south of the equator. They sometimes share their homes with another bird called the greensinger. They prefer dry areas like grasslands with low plants and the edges of forests.
These birds like to build their nests in certain types of palm trees. They use the brown fibers from the palms to build the outside of their nests. The inside of the nest is made with softer materials to keep their babies cozy.
Reproduction and Social Life
During the breeding season, male lemon-breasted canaries sing a lot. Their songs are short, fast, and a bit like a series of rising and falling chirps. They usually breed between December and May, but they are most active in January and February.
These birds usually have one partner for life. They like to be alone and protect their own space. The male's singing and showing off his slightly spread wings helps him attract a female. In captivity, female canaries feed their chicks special food, seeds, and even some insects during their first week.
Lemon-breasted canaries usually stay in one area. However, when it's not breeding season, groups of them might move around randomly within their home range.
Population and Challenges
The number of lemon-breasted canaries is slowly decreasing. This is mainly because the palm trees they live in are being cut down to make furniture. Also, some of these birds are caught and sold as pets.
However, in some places, like the Shire Valley in Malawi, their numbers seem to be growing. This is probably because they can adapt to many different types of grassland homes. One study found that at least 2,000 birds are taken from southern Mozambique each year. This causes the canary population in that area to decline.
 | Delilah Pierce |
 | Gordon Parks |
 | Augusta Savage |
 | Charles Ethan Porter |
