Montane widowbird
| Montane widowbird | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Ploceidae |
| Genus: | Euplectes |
| Species: | E. psammacromius |
| Binomial name | |
| Euplectes psammacromius (Reichenow, 1900) | |
| Synonyms | |
| Pentethria psammocromia lapsus | |
The montane widowbird (Euplectes psammacromius), also known as the mountain marsh widowbird is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae, which is native to the eastern Afrotropics.
Range and habitat
[edit]It is an endemic resident of the eastern Afromontane grasslands. It occurs in northeast Zambia, northern Malawi and the highlands of southwestern Tanzania.
Description
[edit]Like all widowbirds, the male and female plumages differ prominently during breeding season. In the breeding season males moult into a black breeding plumage, which includes long tail feathers and yellow shoulder patches (these patches retain a discrete appearance during the non-breeding period). Outside the breeding season the sexes are similar in appearance, both having speckled brown and black plumage.
Behaviour
[edit]During this period males defend territories in the early morning after sunrise and in the evening before sunset.
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Euplectes psammacromius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22719238A94619088. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22719238A94619088.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- BirdLife International 2004. Euplectes psammocromius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2007.
- Birds of East Africa. Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe. 2002.
- Degree project data. 2010. David Krantz. Biology student, Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg.
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