Euschistospiza
Slate Gray Astrild ( Euschistospiza cinereovinacea )
The Schieferastrilde ( Euschistospiza ) are a genus within the family of finches. For the genus two species are expected.
Description
Schieferastrilde reach a body length of 11.5 centimeters. Both types have slate-gray plumage games on as well as the sides of the body white drops stains. The Dybowskis Tropfenastrild has a greater proportion of red plumage games. A conspicuous feature of it are the red upper tail-coverts, which account for two-thirds of the tail and the crimson back, shoulders and rump. The slate gray Astrild has a predominantly slate gray to brownish slate- gray plumage. For him, the rear rump and upper tail-coverts are red.
Dissemination and lifestyle
Both species occur in two widely separated populations. The Dybowskiastrild comes in southern Senegal to front in the east of Sierra Leone, and in the interior highlands of Nigeria. The slate gray Astrild settled the highlands of Angola and the Highlanders, ranging from the western shores of Lake Tanganyika on Burundi and Rwanda to the south-west Uganda.
The life of the slate gray Astrilds is largely unexplored. So far it has been observed mainly in the bushes interspersed with upland savanna. The Dybowskiastrild inhabited open grasslands in forests, river banks and gallery forests. Both species are very shy and difficult to observe.
Attitude
The slate gray Astrild plays no role in the decorative bird attitude. It could be bred in captivity in 1965, however the first time. The Dybowskiastrild was first introduced in 1959 and bred for the first time in the same year as the slate gray Astrild. Since the 1980s, the Dybowskiastrild is regularly imported and has become a very common bird held. The captive breeding now for several generations. However, the Dybowskiastrild is not very suitable for a community attitude, especially as the males during the breeding season can be very aggressive. Both species require for their well -being aviaries with a planting that allows them to retreat.
Species
- Dybowskiastrild ( Euschistospiza dybowskii )
- Slate Gray Astrild ( Euschistospiza cinereovinacea )