Nigrita (bird)

Graunackenschwärzling ( N. canicapilla )

Schwärzlinge ( Nigrita ), also called Mantelschwärzlinge, are a genus of the family of finches.

Appearance

Schwärzlinge are unusually plain -colored birds within the family finches and also differ in the way of life of other finches such as the bronze figure, the Elsterchen and Sonnenastrilde. Schwärzlinge life, unlike those in forests and feed mainly on insects and fruit. Within this family, they are related to the ants picker and the Meisenastrilden.

The beak of the Schwärzlinge is short and slender with a rounded upper beak that is slightly flatter and wider in the region of the nostrils. The wings are rather pointed, the tail feathers are black. Two species of this genus have black and gray plumage, the third type is feathery gray and maroon, the fourth brown and white with a black skull. The body underside is plain.

Dissemination

Schwärzlinge are Finches of Africa. Its distribution area extends into West Africa from Sierra Leone to Angola and extends eastward across Zaire and Uganda to Kenya.

Species

• Mantelschwärzling ( N. fusconotus )
• Zweifarbenschwärzling ( N. bicolor)
• Blassstirnschwärzling ( N. luteifrons )
• Graunackenschwärzling ( N. canicapilla )