Angolagiritz
| Angolagiritz | ||||||||||||
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Angolagiritz ( Crithagra atrogularis ) |
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| Crithagra atrogularis | ||||||||||||
| ( A. Smith , 1836) |
The Angolagiritz ( Crithagra atrogularis ) is a species of finch from the subfamily of goldfinches . It occurs exclusively in southern Africa.
Several subspecies are distinguished. The IUCN classifies the Angolagiritz as not endangered ( least concern ).
Appearance
The Angolagiritz reaches a body length of 10.5 to 12.0 centimeters. It is a small, predominantly gray-brown girlitz with a relatively short tail and a bright yellow rump . There is no noticeable sexual dimorphism , the females tend to have a smaller black throat spot than the males.
Angolagir litz of the nominate form Serinus agtrogularis atrogularis are reddish-brown on the upper side of the body with dark longitudinal stripes, the rump is lemon yellow, the upper tail-covers are dull brown with black feather shafts and white feather tips. The control feathers are dark brown, the outer vane has a narrow, light brownish border, the tip of the inner vane is white. The narrow stripe above the eyes is whitish, the region between the base of the beak and the eye is dull light gray, the cheeks and the ear covers are grayish or dull brown. The region from chin to chest and flanks is pale gray or brownish. In the center of the throat and upper chest there is either a soot-black throat spot or the region is dense black spots. The rest of the underside of the body is grayish to whitish with some dark, not very sharp longitudinal stripes. The eyes are brown, the legs brownish flesh-colored. The beak is horn-colored, with the lower beak slightly lighter. Young birds are generally more yellowish than the adults . They still lack the throat patch, but they have short, dark vertical stripes on the throat and upper chest.
Due to its plumage, the Angolagiritz is not to be confused with any other species in its distribution area. In western Kenya, however, the distribution area of the subspecies S. a. somereni up to the range of the Reichenowgirlitz . This subspecies differs from Reichenowgirlitz by the darker top of the body and the black throat spot.
Distribution area and habitat
The Angolagiritz occurs from the equator to the former South African Cape Province. The distribution area includes the countries Angola , Botswana , Burundi , Republic of the Congo , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Djibouti , Ethiopia , Gabon , Kenya , Lesotho , Namibia , Rwanda , Somalia , Republic of South Africa , Sudan , Tanzania , Uganda , Zambia and Zimbabwe .
The Angolagiritz is a resident bird , but outside of the breeding season it occasionally wanders around as a nomad. It then also reaches areas in which it normally does not occur. There are occasional major invasions in Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The Angolagiritz inhabits open forests and lightly wooded plains, tree and shrub savannahs, clearings and bank vegetation and also occurs on the edge of agricultural areas and farms as well as in the vicinity of villages. Basically he stays near water. In some regions of its range, it is also found in suburbs.
Way of life
The Angolagiritz lives either in pairs or in small groups of five to 15 individuals. However, up to 60 individuals can gather at water holes. Large squads usually consist of several family groups. It is often associated with other types of girlitz.
Angolagiritz look for food on the ground, on larger shrubs, in bushes and trees. For example, they eat aphids that are on rose bushes or peck them from yucca palms . They also occasionally catch insects in flight. They also eat leaves, buds and fruits. Millet as well as the seeds of sunflowers and the buds and petals of the blue lupine, which is naturalized in southern Africa, are part of their diet .
Reproduction
The Angolagirltiz is a monogamous, territorial single breeder. Both parent birds are equally involved in building the nest and can always be seen in pairs while the nest is being built. The male usually begins building nests. As a rule, angolagir litz bring nest material every three to four minutes. The nest is a bowl made of dry grass, very small twigs, plant fibers and cobwebs. The nest is between one and 15 meters above the ground in deciduous trees, palms, conifers and sugar bushes . It is usually well hidden. The clutch consists of two to five eggs.
It is only the female that breeds and hardly leaves the clutch during the breeding season. The male brings food during this time. As soon as the male appears in the vicinity of the nest, the female begs the male for food with trembling wings, trembling tail and high head under begging sounds. The nestlings hatch after a breeding period of 12 to 13 days. Feed both parent birds. The nestling period is 15 to 17 days. They will be looked after by the parent birds for some time after they have left the country.
Subspecies
In addition to the nominate form described above, a distinction is made between the following subspecies:
- Crithagra atrogularis impiger Clancey , 1959 - South Africa. This subspecies is generally paler than the nominate form.
- C. a. deserti ( Reichenow ), 1918 - Namibia, southern Angola, north-west and north of the Cape Province. This subspecies lacks the throat spot and is paler than the nominate form and almost white on the underside of the body. There are short, fuzzy, dark vertical stripes on the upper chest and a few small black spots on the throat.
- C. a. semideserti Roberts , 1932 - Far west of Zimbabwe, the north-west of the Transvaal, Botswana, the south-west of Zambia, the south of Angola, and the north-east of Namibia. The throat is colored like the nominate form, the rest of the body plumage is paler and grayer.
- C. a. seshekeensis Grant & Mackworth-Praed , 1958 - Southwest Zimbabwe. The subspecies is similar to the subspecies C. a. semideserti , but has a light cinnamon-colored underside of the body.
- C. a. lwenarum C. MN White , 1944 - Congo, southern Zaire, central Angola, Zambia and southwestern Tanzania. This subspecies is darker on the body surface than the nominate form.
- C. a. somereni Hartert , 1912 - East Zaire, Northwest Tanzania, Uganda and West Kenya. The subspecies is similar to S. a. lwenarum , however, is more brownish than this.
literature
- C. Hilary Fry , Stuart Keith (Eds.): The Birds of Africa. Volume 7, Christopher Helm, London 2004, ISBN 0-7136-6531-9 .
Single receipts
Web links
- Crithagra atrogularis inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.3. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2018.