The African quailfinch, spectacled quailfinch, or white-chinned quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis fuscocrissa), is a common species of estrildid finch found in eastern and southern Africa. Some taxonomists consider it to be conspecific with the black-faced quailfinch and the black-chinned quailfinch, others consider all three species to be conspecific.
| African quailfinch | |
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| O. a. fuscocrissa, male, at Suikerbosrand, South Africa | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Ortygospiza |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | O. a. fuscocrissa
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| Trinomial name | |
| Ortygospiza atricollis fuscocrissa (Heuglin, 1863)
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Description
editThe African quailfinch is 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length and weighs 9-14 grams (0.3-0.5 ounces). It is small and compact with dark grey underparts, barred breasts and flanks, and an orange-buff central belly. The feathers around its eye and on its chin are white. Breeding males have a red bill, while the bills of females and non-breeding males have a brown upper mandible and a red lower mandible. The female is paler than the male and has less distinctive barring.[1]
Voice
editIt calls a tinny "chink-chink" when in flight.[1]
Distribution and ecology
editThe African quailfinch is found in East and southern Africa.[2] It inhabits grassland and weedy areas, especially near water. It eats seeds, filamentous algae, insects, and spiders.[1][2]
Geographical variation
editWhen considered a full species, the following geographical variation has been accepted:[2]
Gallery
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male -
female skin -
nest
References
edit- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.7. Downloaded from [1]
External links
edit- Quail Finch/Black-faced quailfinch - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.