Red-throated Twinspot

Red Tropfenastrild

Called The Red Tropfenastrild ( Hypargos niveoguttatus ), also Tropfenastrild, drop Fink or Tropfenastrild Peters, is a species in the family of finches. Currently, there are two subspecies. However, there are proposals to consider the type as monotypic.

Description

The Red Tropfenastrild reaches a length of twelve to thirteen inches. The sides of the head, sides of the neck, the throat, the crop area and the upper chest are crimson. The male has an olive-brown upper head and neck, the color intensity varies depending on the subspecies. The back and wings are cinnamon brown. The rear rump and upper tail-coverts are red. The tail feathers are tinged with black and red. The body bottom is black, which are located at the sides of the body large white drops stains, which are formed by white spots, which are located on each flag of the single spring. The eyes are brown, the lid margin is light blue. The beak is gray-blue with a darker ridge and a dark tip.

The females have a body top similar to the males, the sides of the head, however, are olive-brown as the skull, the throat is yellow-brown, and the lower body blackish gray. The drops stains on the sides of the body are narrow lined black.

Dissemination and lifestyle

The distribution area of the Red Tropfenastrilds ranges in East Africa from the extreme southern Somalia on the east and the inner country of Kenya on Tanzania to the south of Mozambique and Rwanda. To the west it extends over the southern Congo to the east of Angola. The habitat of the Red Tropfenastrilds are border zones humid forests or gallery forests and dense bushland. It is especially common in the bushes along stream and river banks and often lives in shady ravines. Its altitudinal distribution ranges in East Africa up to 2000 meters in altitude.

The Red Tropfenastrild comes in pairs or in small family groups before. Search for food, he is often seen on roads and paths, but otherwise he lives very hidden. Its diet consists of grass seeds and insects. The nests are built both on the ground and low in the bushes. There are ball nests, which often bear on top of a so-called Hahn nest. The nest consists of three to six white -shelled eggs. Both parents birds breed. The incubation period varies depending on the location and usually falls in the second half of the rainy season. Brood parasite of the Red Tropfenastrilds is the Codrington Atlas widow ( Vidua codringtoni )

Attitude

The Red Tropfenastrild was imported for the first time in 1902 by Carl Hagenbeck in Germany. You will be introduced very regularly since the 1950s and are due to their attractive plumage and their trusting, docile creatures become popular pet birds. As with almost all African finches but freshly imported Tropfenastrilde are very susceptible birds as they reach Europe in poor health. For your well -being a spacious and well landscaped indoor aviary is necessary.