Amadina
Red Headed Finch
Amadinen is the name of the finch species Amadina, which are associated with two African species.
Description
Amadinen reach a body length between twelve and 14 centimeters. The Rotkopfamadinen the males on the upper head, the hind neck, sides of the head and the front throat blood red colored to dull vermilion. When Bandamadine the males have a broad blood-red collar that extends from the ear area across the rear throat. The Red Headed Finch have lower breast, belly and front sides of the body at large white drops stains. When Bandamadine have breast and sides of the body on a reddish isabell - to pale whitish isabellfarbenen plumage, more or less pronounced blackish transverse bands. Common to both types is a pronounced variability, which resulted in the Bandamadine to the description of some subspecies. Today, only four subspecies are recognized for Bandamadine. From the Red Headed Finch, two subspecies are described.
Area of distribution and habitat
The Red Headed Finch is a nomadic inhabitants dry areas of southern Africa. Apart from the African silver beak penetrates from all African finches most in semi-desert habitats before, but basically holds in the vicinity of water bodies on. The distribution of Bandamadine is significantly larger and extends over the drier savannas and bush areas of Africa from Senegal on the southern edge of the Sahara to Eritrea and Somalia. The Bandamadine settled there, mainly acacia savannas and also occurs in the vicinity of villages and cultivated land.
The Red Headed Finch shows depending on their habitat, a different social behavior. During the breeding season they form breeding communities whose individuals each other obviously know, since they sell do not belong to this community couples. This breed communities remain always in contact with groups of non-breeding adult and young birds that permanently reside in the vicinity of water bodies. In humid regions, this behavior is not as pronounced.
Attitude
Amadinen among the first exotic bird species that have been introduced for trading in Europe. The Bandamadine however, was probably held in Europe in the 17th, certainly in the 18th century as an ornamental bird. They are very regularly since the 19th century in the trade. The Bandamadine one of the finch species most commonly imported. For the caging Amadinen are not suitable. The meet their needs maintenance is done in spacious aviaries.
Species
The genus contains two species Amadina with six subspecies:
- Bandamadine Amadina fasciata ( Gmelin, 1789) Fasciata fasciata Amadina ( Gmelin, 1789)
- Amadina fasciata alexanderi Neumann, 1908
- Amadina fasciata meridionalis Ninety, 1910
- Amadina fasciata contigua Clancey, 1970
- Erythrocephala erythrocephala Amadina (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Amadina erythrocephala dissita Clancey, 1958