Crimsonwings
A male Abyssinian crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Cryptospiza
Salvadori, 1884
Type species
Pytelia reichenovii[1]
Hartlaub, 1874
Species
  • C. reichenovii
  • C. salvadorii
  • C. jacksoni
  • C. shelleyi

The crimsonwings (Cryptospiza) are a genus of small passerine birds belonging to the estrildid finch family (Estrildidae). There are four species. They are found in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Albertine Rift; all four species occur there and two, Shelley's and dusky crimsonwings, are found nowhere else. They are secretive birds which mainly inhabit mountain forests with dense undergrowth. They usually forage on or near the ground, feeding mainly on seeds such as those of grasses and balsam.

They are 11–13 cm long with short wings and a short, rounded tail. The bill is thick and conical and either black or red. They all have a reddish back and rump and olive or grey underparts. Juvenile birds are duller than the adults.

Destruction and degradation of their forest habitat is a potential threat to the crimsonwings and Shelley's crimsonwing is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.

Species list

ImageCommon NameScientific nameDistribution
Red-faced crimsonwingCryptospiza reichenoviiAngola, Burundi, Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Abyssinian crimsonwingCryptospiza salvadoriiEthiopia, Uganda
Dusky crimsonwingCryptospiza jacksoniAfrica
Shelley's crimsonwingCryptospiza shelleyiBurundi, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and western Uganda in Africa.

References

  1. "Estrildidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  • Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan & Davies, John (1993) Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide, Christopher Helm, London.
  • Sinclair, Ian & Ryan, Peter (2003) Birds of Africa south of the Sahara, Struik, Cape Town.


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