Gold heads
| Gold heads | ||||||||||||
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Goldhead ( Auriparus flaviceps ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Auriparus | ||||||||||||
| SF Baird , 1864 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Auriparus flaviceps | ||||||||||||
| ( Sundevall , 1864) |
The Goldköpfchen ( Auriparus flaviceps ) is the only bag chickadees -Art in America and the only representative of the genus Auriparus .
features
The 10 cm long gold head is a small songbird with a gray body, yellow face and reddish shoulder spots and a black pointed beak.
Occurrence
The distribution area of this resident bird extends from the southwest of the USA to central Mexico. The golden head lives in desert valleys and thickets, especially in the extensive thorny undergrowth of mesquite trees.
behavior
Outside the mating season, the golden head is a loner. It builds nests all year round, in which it spends the nights. While these nests are warmer padded in winter, they stay more open in summer to allow air to circulate. In addition to insects, seeds and berries, food also includes nectar from flowers.
Reproduction
The spherical nest of thorny branches with a side entrance is built at a low height in bushes or deep in trees. The male first builds the nest alone. After mating, the female participates in the completion of the nest. Three to six eggs are incubated by the female for two to three weeks. But when the female lays eggs a second time, the male takes care of the first brood.
literature
- Colin Harrison, Alan Greensmith: Birds. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London 1993, 2000, ISBN 3-8310-0785-3 .
- Bryan Richard: Birds. Parragon, Bath, ISBN 1-40545-506-3 .
Web links
- Auriparus flaviceps in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 2 of 2009.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Auriparus flaviceps in the Internet Bird Collection