Acacia jay

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Acacia jay
Acacia jay (Zavattariornis stresemanni) in the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary

Acacia jay ( Zavattariornis stresemanni ) in the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Superfamily : Corvoidea
Family : Corvids (Corvidae)
Genre : Zavattariornis
Type : Acacia jay
Scientific name of the  genus
Zavattariornis
Moltoni , 1938
Scientific name of the  species
Zavattariornis stresemanni
Moltoni , 1938

The acacia jay ( Zavattariornis stresemanni ), sometimes also called the Zavattari bird , is a songbird native to Ethiopia . It belongs to the corvidae family.

Systematics

The acacia jay was discovered in 1937. Edoardo Zavattari, the former director of the Zoological Institute at the University of Rome , observed him in April 1937 during two expeditions to the southern Ethiopian bushland. It was named after the German ornithologist Erwin Stresemann . In 1938 it was first described by the Italian ornithologist Edgardo Moltoni and classified in the monotypic genus Zavattariornis .

features

The starling-like birds reach a size of 30 cm. It is blue-gray in its entire appearance, but is almost white in color towards the forehead. The throat and chest are cream-colored and the wing feathers and tail are glossy black. The nibs are lightened brownish. Males and females are similar, the young birds are a little more dirty in color. The iris is brown and the eyes are surrounded by a light blue band of bare facial skin. The beak, feet and legs are black.

distribution and habitat

Its occurrence is limited to thorn, short grass and acacia savannahs in southern Ethiopia near the places Yabello (Jabello), Mega and Arero.

Way of life and reproduction

Outside the breeding season it is very sociable. They like to stay in the company of the white-headed starlings ( Spreo albicapillus ) and form groups of four to ten birds. Their diet consists of insects. The breeding season is from February / March to May / June and the nests are built in acacia bushes at a height of 6 m . The clutch usually consists of five to six cream-colored eggs with lilac-colored spots. The nest is spherical with a tubular entrance at the top. Due to the long breeding period, it is possible that several breeding pairs visit the nest and that young birds from previous breeding seasons help in rearing their young.

literature

  • Edgardo Moltoni: La posizione sistematica del genere Zavattariornis , SA Rev. Ital. Ornite. Anno XIX, Ser. II, 1949 (ital.)
  • Mellanby, RJ, Ross, B., Watt, A., Wondafrash, M., Ewnetu, M., Broadhurst, C., Critchlow, R., Dadesa, A., Deas, T., Enawgaw, C., Gebremedin , B., Graham, E., Maclean, S., Mckean, M., Collar, NJ & Spottiswoode, CN (2008): Distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of White-tailed Swallow Hirundo megaensis and Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni , two southern Ethiopian endemics. In: Bird Conservation International 18: p. 395-412

Web links

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