Bird Name:
Crimson Seedcracker
Latin Name:
Pyrenestes sanguineus
Status:
Least Concern
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Pyrenestes
Species: P. sanguineus
General Information:
The Crimson Seedcracker is a common estrildid finch found in western Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 430,000 km². This seedcracker is shy and found in pairs or small groups. Its call is sharp and its song is described as a melodious warble. The seedcracker genus has three species, the Crimson Seedcracker, the Black-bellied Seedcracker and the Lesser Seedcracker. All three species are similar in appearance, showing off the crimson coloration in the face and tail.
Physical Description:
The bird has a crimson head and tail. The red body has dark brown showing on wings and lower belly. The legs are a light reddish brown. They have a short, very thick beak that is dark gray in color. There is obvious white around the eye. The females are similar but lack the red flanks and are duller on the nape and breast. This is also true with the juveniles who exhibit duller colors. The average length is 13 cm.
Diet:
The diet is mainly seeds but insects are eaten while raising the young. They commonly feed on or near the ground.
Habitat:
The bird is found in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. This species frequents wetlands including marshes, rivers, river banks, and some moist scrubland.
Reproduction:
The bird’s nest is comprised mostly of reeds. The clutch consists of 3 to 4 white eggs. The female will incubate the eggs for approximately 14 to 15 days.
