Rothschild weaver
| Rothschild weaver | ||||||||||||
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Rothschild weaver ( Foudia omissa ) |
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| Foudia omissa | ||||||||||||
| Rothschild , 1912 |
The Rothschild weaver ( Foudia omissa ) is a songbird species from the weaver bird family (Ploceidae). It occurs in Madagascar .
features
The Rothschild weaver reaches a size of 14 centimeters and a weight of 15 to 24 grams. The forehead, top of the head and neck are red in the male in splendid dress . A black ring runs around the eyes and a dark spot can be seen behind the eye. The chin, throat, cheeks, and ear covers are red. The upper chest is red. Underbust, flanks, belly, thigh fletching and under tail covers are olive gray. The thigh fletching and the tail-coverts are often yellowish washed out. The coat and back are olive brown with a dark central stripe. Some feathers have red tips. The rump and the tail-coverts are red. Upper wing and tail are dark olive green. The wing feathers have narrow yellow hems, the wing-covers have broad, light-colored edges. The iris is dark brown, the beak black, and the legs are brown.
The forehead, top of the head and neck of the males in plain dress and the females are olive green with narrow median stripes. On the also olive green coat and back, these are much wider. The rump is unstripe. The wings and tail are dark olive-green, like the male in the magnificent dress. The cheeks and ear covers are olive green. The throat and underside are olive gray with a few yellow stripes, lightest on the chin and center of the abdomen. The iris is dark brown, the bill and legs are light brown. The juvenile birds resemble the females. However, the underside is more brownish than greenish in tint and the wing covers are leather-colored.
The song is similar to that of the Madagascar weaver ( Foudia madagascariensis ).
Occurrence and habitat
The Rothschild weaver lives in intact evergreen rainforests from sea level to altitudes of 2000 m. Its distribution area extends in the east of Madagascar from the Montagne d'Ambre National Park via Tsaratanana to the south of Tolagnaro .
Way of life
Red shield weavers are evidently resident birds . Their diet consists of seeds, nectar and insects. The food components examined include Sloanea seeds and the flower nectar of Strongylodon , Bakerella and Symphonia . Rothschild weavers go in search of food in small schools of up to 15 individuals. Sometimes they can be seen in mixed flocks of birds. The breeding behavior does not differ from that of the Madagascar weaver. Breeding birds have been observed in January. The Rotschild weaver is apparently monogamous.
literature
- Adrian Craig: Family Ploceidae (Weavers) In: Del Hoyo, J .; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (Editors). (2010). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 15: Weavers to New World Warblers . Lynx Edicions, ISBN 978-84-96553-68-2
Web links
- Foudia omissa inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2014.