• Source: Protea canary

The protea canary (Crithagra leucoptera), also known as the protea seedeater, white-winged seedeater or Layard's seedeater, is a small passerine bird in the finch family.




Taxonomy


The protea canary was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the protea canary were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.




Description


The protea canary is 15–16 cm in length with a large pale bill. The adult has grey-brown upperparts, a black chin, white throat and two thin buff wing bars. The underparts are buff with light streaking. The sexes are similar, but young birds are more heavily streaked below than the adults.
The call of the protea canary is a trilled tree-lee-loo or a sweet. The song is a loud medley of warbles and trills, with much mimicry.




Distribution and habitat


It is an endemic resident breeder in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. This species is found in mature protea scrub, tangled valley thickets and forests in the mountains of the Western Cape Province. Its range does not reach the coast.




Behaviour


The protea canary builds an open cup nest from thin stems and other plant material and lined with plant down. It is placed in a dense bush.
The protea canary is less gregarious than other canaries. It tends to be found singly or in pairs, or occasionally in small groups. It is a shy and retiring bird which stays in thick vegetation. When it flies, it soon dives back into cover. It feeds on seeds, (particularly those of proteas, Othonna amplericaules and Rhus anarcardia) and some fruit, nectar and shoots. Insects are occasionally eaten.




References


Citations

Bibliography
Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN 1-86872-721-1
Clement, Harris and Davis, Finches and Sparrows by ISBN 0-7136-8017-2




External links


Species text - The Atlas of Southern African Birds

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Serangga sisik
• Protea canary
• List of endemic birds of southern Africa
• Fynbos
• List of birds by common name
• Crithagra
• List of birds of South Africa
• List of least concern birds
• List of birds of Africa
• List of true finch species
• San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden