Crimsonwing

Crimsonwings
A male Abyssinian crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus:
Salvadori, 1884
Type species
Pytelia reichenovii
Hartlaub, 1874
Species
  • C. reichenovii
  • C. salvadorii
  • C. jacksoni
  • C. shelleyi

The crimsonwings (Cryptospiza) are a genus of small passerine birds belonging to the estrildid finch family, Estrildidae. There are four species. They are found in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Albertine Rift; all four species occur there and two, Shelley's and dusky crimsonwings, are found nowhere else. They are secretive birds which mainly inhabit mountain forests with dense undergrowth. They usually forage on or near the ground, feeding mainly on seeds such as those of grasses and balsam.

They are 11–13 cm long with short wings and a short, rounded tail. The bill is thick and conical and either black or red. They all have a reddish back and rump and olive or grey underparts. Juvenile birds are duller than the adults.

Destruction and degradation of their forest habitat is a potential threat to the crimsonwings and Shelley's crimsonwing is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.

Taxonomy

The genus Cryptospiza was introduced in 1884 by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori with Pytelia reichenovii Hartlaub, the red-faced crimsonwing, as the type species.[1][2] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek κρυπτος/kruptos meaning "hidden" or "obscure" with σπιζα/spiza meaning "finch".[3]

Species list

The genus contains four species.[4]

Image Common Name Scientific name Distribution
Red-faced crimsonwing Cryptospiza reichenovii Bioko and the Western High Plateau, the Albertine Rift montane forests and east Africa.
Abyssinian crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii highlands of East Africa
Dusky crimsonwing Cryptospiza jacksoni Albertine Rift montane forests
Shelley's crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi Albertine Rift montane forests

References

  1. ^ Salvadori, Tommaso (1884). "Spedizione Italiana nell'Africa Equatoriale. Risultati Zoologici. Uccelli dello Scioa e della regione fra Zeila e lo Scioa". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova (in Italian). 21: 7-276 [180].
  2. ^ Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 316.
  3. ^ Jobling, James A. "Cryptospiza". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  4. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  • Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan & Davies, John (1993) Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide, Christopher Helm, London.
  • Sinclair, Ian & Ryan, Peter (2003) Birds of Africa south of the Sahara, Struik, Cape Town.


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