Locust finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Locust finch |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Paludipasser
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| Species: |
locustella
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The locust finch (Paludipasser locustella) is a small, colorful bird. It lives in south-central and south-eastern Africa. This bird is a type of waxbill. It is the only species in its group, or genus, called Paludipasser.
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Understanding the Locust Finch
How Scientists Name Animals
Scientists give every living thing a special name. This helps them organize and study nature. The locust finch's scientific name is Paludipasser locustella. An English scientist named Sheffield Airey Neave first described this bird in 1909. He found it near the Luansenshi River in what is now Zambia. He placed it in its own unique group, or genus, called Paludipasser.
What Does a Locust Finch Look Like?
The locust finch is similar to another bird called the quailfinch. Male locust finches have a bright red face, throat, and chest. Their wings are a reddish-brown color, called rufous. Their body is black with white spots, but their lower belly is plain.
Female locust finches also have rufous wings. They do not have the white face markings that female quailfinches have. Young birds have black and brown streaks on their upper parts. Their underparts are browner than the females'. This bird is about 9 to 10 centimeters (about 3.5 to 4 inches) long.
Where Do Locust Finches Live?
Locust finches have been seen in many parts of Africa. These include Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They also live south through Zambia, Angola, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. In some areas, like Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, they are quite rare.
Preferred Habitat
These birds like damp, grassy areas near water. They often live in sandy places, like sandveld. Their favorite spots have thin plants, not thick forests.
Locust Finch Behavior and Life Cycle
The locust finch spends most of its time on the ground. It almost never perches in trees. The places they live can dry out during the dry season. When this happens, these birds might move to new areas. They are often seen in pairs. If there is a severe drought, they might gather in small groups of up to 10 birds.
Reproduction
In southern Africa, locust finches lay their eggs from January to May. This is during the rainy season. Most eggs are laid in January and February, when the rain is heaviest.
Why Are They Hard to Find?
It can be hard to spot a locust finch. They stay on the ground and fly long distances when disturbed. This makes them act a bit like a quail.
What Threats Do Locust Finches Face?
The locust finch was once thought to be "near threatened." This means it was close to being endangered. However, scientists now think it is still widespread. There is no strong proof that their numbers are dropping quickly.
Challenges for the Species
Even so, the population might have decreased in the past. This could be due to droughts in the 1980s. The locust finch is also threatened by the cage-bird trade. This is when birds are caught and sold as pets. Losing their marshland homes, partly because of dry weather, is another big problem for them.
