Teardrop astrilde
| Teardrop astrilde | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Hypargos | ||||||||||||
| Reichenbach , 1862 |
The droplets ( Hypargos ) are a genus within the finch family . The genus includes two species, both of which are found in Africa.
description
Drop astrilde reach a body length of twelve to thirteen centimeters. Both species have a brownish plumage on the upper side of the body, whereby the red tassel is more olive brown and the pearly tiger is reddish brown. The males of the two species differ in the color of the reins, head, sides of the neck, throat, goiter area and upper chest. In the case of the Red Teardrop they are crimson, whereas in the Perlastrild they are browner and paler. Both species have droplet spots that are very close to each other on the sides, which are whitish pink in the pearl deer and white in the red pearl deer. They are created by a spot on each of the two flags of a feather.
Two subspecies are currently recognized for the Red Teardrop Deer, and it is currently being discussed whether this species should be recognized as monotypical like the Pearl Deer.
Distribution and way of life
Both species are native to East Africa. The red drip bark has a much larger distribution area and occurs from southern Somalia via Kenya and Tanzania to the south of Mozambique and Rwanda as well as the east of Angola . The distribution area of the pearl deer connects to the red drip deer. The two species also use slightly different habitats. The pearl deer, for example, is absent in the more densely forested coastal areas of Mozambique, where the red drip deer occurs. Both species are found in dense undergrowth or bushes, with the pearl deer preferring drier habitats than the red driftwood.
attitude
The pearl deer only comes into the European bird trade very sporadically. The teardrop, which was first imported to Germany by Carl Hagenbeck in 1902 , has been one of the regularly traded ornamental bird species since the 1950s. They are kept relatively frequently because of the beauty of their plumage and their trusting and tame nature.
species
The following two types are counted among the drop astrids:
- Pearl deer ( Hypargos margaritatus )
- Red driftwood ( Hypargos niveaguttatus )
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
