Grey-headed Nigrita
Graunackenschwärzling ( Nigrita canicapillus )
The Graunackenschwärzling ( Nigrita canicapillus ) is an African bird species in the family of finches ( Estrildidae ). It is a dark, forest birds with a gray skull, a black forehead and pale spotted wings. We distinguish several subspecies.
The IUCN classifies the Graunackenschwärzling one as not at risk ( least concern ).
Description
Graunackenschwärzlinge reach a body length of 13 to 14 inches. They have a gray-black beak, a black face mask and a light gray neck. The plumage is dark gray otherwise. The outer scapulars, the large wing-coverts and the inner secondaries are white to gray mottled. The rump is whitish-gray and lighter than the back. For individuals it is sometimes mottled dark and banded. Males and females are similar, but females have a more delicate beak. The beak is black and the eyes are red, the legs are dark brown to blackish.
Juveniles are uniformly dark gray with pale gray eyes.
The Graunackenschwärzling can be confused with the Blassstirnschwärzling. However, the Graunackenschwärzling has a black forehead and Blassstirnschwärzling lack the white spots on the wings, which is characteristic of the Graunackenschwärzling.
Area of distribution and habitat
Graunackenschwärzlinge are distributed from Sierra Leone to Kenya and south to Angola. The species occurs in light wooded areas. It has also opened up farmland and occurs for example in coffee and cocoa plantations in gardens or in the bushes along roadsides. In Liberia, living in forest areas per square kilometer, three to five pairs; in more open areas there are even three to nine pairs. Similar figures were calculated for Gabon. Usually Graunackenschwärzlinge be observed individually or in pairs, they are due to their plumage but usually hard to detect. Her singing is usually the first indication that Graunackenschwärzlinge are nearby. In East Africa, their altitudinal distribution ranges up to 2,100 meters, in the area of the Virunga volcanoes to 2,600 meters even. In forests of Liberia come three to five breeding pairs and in the forests of Gabon five to six breeding pairs per square kilometer.
Way of life
Graunackenschwärzlinge live in pairs or in small family groups. Mostly, Graunackenschwärzlinge hold on to the top treetops. They are often seen in the company of sunbirds. Their diet consists mainly of insects, such as larvae and caterpillars as well as ants and termites. In addition, they also eat small seeds and shells of oil palm fruits.
Graunackenschwärzlinge are free breeders that build their nests in large ball bushes. As a construction material, they use coconut and sisal fibers, grasses, mosses, other plant and animal wool. The female lays four to six eggs, which are incubated for twelve to 13 days. The incubation period varies depending on the area of distribution. In some regions, for example in Tanzania, where nests have been found so far only in January, Graunackenschwärzlinge breed only in a few months. In Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo Graunackenschwärzlinge breed all year round.
Subspecies
In addition to the nominate made first in the genus Aethiops are five subspecies
- Nigrita canicapillus emiliae Sharpe, 1869
- Nigrita canicapillus schistaceus Sharpe, 1891
- Nigrita canicapillus diabolicus ( Reichenow & Neumann, 1895)
- Nigrita canicapillus angolensis Bannerman, 1921
- Nigrita canicapillus candidus Moreau, 1942
And described with the nomen nudum Nigrita canicapillus sparsimgutatus an invalid subspecies.
Attitude
The first Graunackenschwärzlinge were held at the beginning of the 1930s at the London Zoo. More imports to the UK took place in 1948 and 1965. Only in 1973 were Graunackenschwärzlinge imported into Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The needs of the birds after a varied diet with insects can be satisfied by experienced nurses today. Nevertheless, the offspring succeed only very rarely.