Slate astrilde
| Slate astrilde | ||||||||||||
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Slate astrild ( Euschistospiza cinereovinacea ) |
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| Euschistospiza | ||||||||||||
| Wolters , 1943 |
The Schieferastrilde ( Euschistospiza ) are a genus within the family of the finches . Two species are included in the genus.
description
Schieferastrilde reach a body length of 11.5 centimeters. Both species have slate-gray plumage and white teardrop spots on the sides of the body. The Dybowskis tears have a larger proportion of red plumage. The red upper tail covers, which make up two thirds of the tail, as well as the crimson back, shoulders and rump are noticeable. The slate-gray Astrild has predominantly slate-gray to brownish slate-gray plumage. The rear rump and the upper tail-coverts are red.
Distribution and way of life
Both species occur in two widely separated populations. The Dybowskiastrild occurs in southern Senegal to the east of Sierra Leone and in the inner highlands of Nigeria . The slate gray Astrild inhabits the highlands of Angola and the highlands, which extend from the west bank of Lake Tanganyika through Burundi and Rwanda to the southwest of Uganda .
The way of life of the slate gray Astrild is largely unexplored. So far it has mainly been observed in the highland savannah interspersed with bushes. The Dybowskiastrild populates open grasslands in forests, on river banks and gallery forests. Both species are very shy and difficult to observe.
attitude
The slate gray Astrild does not play a role in the keeping of ornamental birds. However, it could be bred in captivity for the first time in 1965. The Dybowskiastrild was first introduced in 1959 and was bred for the first time in the same year as the slate gray Astrild. The Dybowskiastrild has been imported regularly since the 1980s and has become a very popular bird. The offspring succeeded in the meantime over several generations. However, the Dybowskiastrild is not very suitable for community housing, as the males in particular can become very aggressive during the breeding season. For their wellbeing, both species need aviaries with plants that allow them to retreat.
species
- Dybowskiastrild ( Euschistospiza dybowskii )
- Slate astrild ( Euschistospiza cinereovinacea )
supporting documents
literature
- Jürgen Nicolai (Ed.), Joachim Steinbacher (Ed.), Renate van den Elzen, Gerhard Hofmann, Claudia Mettke-Hofmann: Prachtfinken - Afrika , Series Handbuch der Vogelpflege, Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-8001- 4964-3
