From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Protea Canary
Protea Canary
Protea Canary • Crithagra leucoptera
Canary,
The Protea Canary Serinus leucopterus, (also known as the
Seedeater,
Protea Seedeater White-winged Seedeater or Layard’s
Seedeater)
Seedeater is a small passerine bird in the finch family.
Distribution and habitat
It is an endemic resident breeder in the southwestern
Cape Province, South Africa. This species is found in ma-
ture protea scrub , tangled valley thickets and forests in
the mountains of southwestern Cape Province. Its range
does not reach the coast.
Description
The Protea Canary is 15-16 cm in length with a large pale
bill. The adult has grey-brown upperparts, a black chin,
white throat and two thin buff wing bars. The underparts
are buff with light streaking. The sexes are similar, but
young birds are more heavily streaked below than the
adults.
The call of the Protea Canary is a trilled tree-lee-loo or
Conservation status a sweet. The song is a loud medley of warbles and trills,
with much mimicry.
Behaviour
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) The Protea Canary builds an open cup nest from thin
stems and other plant material and lined with plant
Scientific classification
down. It is placed in a dense bush.
Kingdom: Animalia The Protea Canary is less gregarious than other ca-
naries. It tends to be found singly or in pairs, or occasion-
Phylum: Chordata
ally in small groups. It is a shy and retiring bird which
Class: Aves stays in thick vegetation. When it flies, it soon dives back
Order: Passeriformes into cover. It feeds on seeds, (particularly those of pro-
teas, Othonna amplericaules and Rhus anarcardia) and some
Family: Fringillidae fruit, nectar and shoots. Insects are occasionally eaten.
Genus: Serinus
Species: S. leucopterus References
Binomial name • Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton,
SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN
Serinus leucopterus
1-86872-721-1
(Sharpe, 1871)
• Clement, Harris and Davis, Finches and Sparrows by
Synonyms ISBN 0-7136-8017-2
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protea_Canary"
Categories: IUCN Red List least concern species, Birds of South Africa, Serinus
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Protea Canary
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