Grey-headed silverbill
Spermestes griseicapilla
The grey-headed silverbill, also known as pearl-headed mannikin, is a species of estrildid finch found in eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 400,000 km2 (150,000 sq mi). It was formerly usually placed in the monotypic genus Odontospiza as Odontospiza caniceps and sometimes placed in the genus Lonchura.
The grey-headed silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla), also known as pearl-headed mannikin, is a species of estrildid finch found in eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 400,000 km2 (150,000 sq mi). It was formerly usually placed in the monotypic genus Odontospiza as Odontospiza caniceps and sometimes placed in the genus Lonchura.
Description
The grey-headed silverbill is a stocky bird with a grey head studded with white dots. Its body is greyish-brown with partly black wings and tail and a white rump. The juvenile can be told by its white rump. Adult male is approximately 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in length with wing length 6.5 cm (2.6 in).
Habitat
The grey-headed silverbill is commonly found in dry savanna habitat but never too far away from water. It wanders widely, influenced by weather and shifting availability of sources of water.
Behavior and ecology
The grey-headed silverbill is gregarious, moving in small flocks and often mixing with African silverbill.
Food and feeding
The grey-headed silverbill feeds mostly on grass seeds. But it has been suggested that the species also feed on insects which are more a source of moisture than dry seeds.
Text adapted from Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Spermestes
- Conservation status
- Not evaluated
Listen to its call
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The illustrations in the pack
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Care guide
Canary and Finch Care Guide: Diet, Housing and Breeding
How to care for canaries, zebra finches, Gouldian finches and other finches: diet, flight cage setup, health, song and breeding. A guide for bird keepers.
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HD Digital Art Pack — Grey-headed silverbill
Digital download: 12 high-resolution illustrations of the Grey-headed silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla), print-ready. This is a digital file; no animal or physical item is included.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Spermestes griseicapilla (Grey-headed silverbill) endangered?
- The IUCN Red List places Spermestes griseicapilla, commonly known as the Grey-headed silverbill, in the «Not evaluated» category. «Not evaluated» means the IUCN has not yet assessed this species.
- What family does Spermestes griseicapilla (Grey-headed silverbill) belong to?
- Spermestes griseicapilla (Grey-headed silverbill) belongs to the family Estrildidae, in the order Passeriformes.
- What colour is Spermestes griseicapilla (Grey-headed silverbill)?
- The plumage of Spermestes griseicapilla (Grey-headed silverbill) combines these colours: Grey and Brown.
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