Lemon-breasted canary

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Lemon-breasted canary
Lemon-breasted canary, Crithagra citrinipectus, near Pafuri in Kruger National Park, South Africa.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Crithagra
Species:
C. citrinipectus
Binomial name
Crithagra citrinipectus
(Clancey & Lawson, 1960)
Synonyms

Serinus citrinipectus

The lemon-breasted canary (Crithagra citrinipectus), also known as the lemon-breasted seedeater, is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savannah, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rural gardens.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The lemon-breasted canary was identified as species in 1960 by Clancey and Lawson from a type obtained near Panda, in Inhambane Province of southern Mozambique. Research involving mitochondrial DNA analysis suggests that this species along with S. leucopygia , S. mozambicus , and S. dorsostriatus belong in a separate genus, Ochrospiza, as they have been revealed to be only distantly related to other African members of the present genus, Serinus. However, before a revision can be made, a detailed inspection of all the taxa in the current genus is necessary. Some consider this species to be a hybrid between S. atrogularis and S. mozambicus. [2] [3]

The lemon-breasted canary was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. [4] The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the lemon-breasted canary were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra . [5] [6]

Description

Although their common name would indicate that each lemon-breasted canary indeed has a yellow throat/chest, this is not the case between males and females, making them easy to differentiate. Only the males have the signature yellow feathers in the breast region. The females have mostly cream and brown feathers, less distinct head markings. However, both sexes have noticeably yellow rumps around the tail feathers and bicolored beaks, the upper part being darker brown/black than the lower part. In addition, males also have white and yellow cheek patches and two yellow and white dots above their beaks. Nestlings of this species show yellow beak edges. There are no known subspecies, however there are small differences between canaries of different regions. [7]

Range and distribution

This species of finch is found locally in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zululand, South Africa, and Zambia. Despite their restricted geographical range and declining overall population, it is still considered a species of “least concern” on the current IUCN Red List category. The total population size is unknown, but is well above the “vulnerable” range of <10,000 mature individuals. This species of bird resides and breeds over an area of 49,800 km2. [8] [9] [10]

Habitat and ecology

Male perched on a palm inflorescence in southern Mozambique Crithagra citrinipectus, Ponto da Barra, Birding Weto, a.jpg
Male perched on a palm inflorescence in southern Mozambique

The lemon-breasted canary resides in southeastern Africa, far south of the equator, and sometimes in the same areas in which Serinus mozambicus — commonly known as the greensinger — is also found. They live in mostly dry areas such as grasslands with sporadic low vegetation and at the boundaries of woody areas. They build their nests mostly (and preferably) in specific species of palms, using the brown fibers of the palms to help construct the outside of the nests, though the inside is lined with softer materials. [11] [12] [13]

Behavior and social organization

During breeding season, males are busy singers. Their song is brief, rapid, and relatively tuneless and occurs in a series of short rising and falling twittering. Their breeding season occurs between December and May, but main activity is in January and February. These birds are monogamous and are fairly solitary and territorial. The courtship process in general is less complex than in most other finches, mostly involving singing and the raised posture of the males with slightly extended wings to attract females. Maturity of the males is measured during this time by their singing and courting. In captivity chicks are fed by females with egg food, germinated seeds, and some animal food during their first week of life. Overall the lemon-breasted canary is sedentary and partially nomadic, and during non-breeding season the flocks move about at random within their home range. [14]

Population trend and threats

The population of lemon-breasted canaries are in an overall, albeit fairly mild decline. This is mostly due to overall pressures on the palms in which they reside (which are used for furniture manufacturing) as well as capture for the cage bird trade. That said, in some locations such as the deforested Shire Valley of Malawi, the populations of lemon-breasted canaries are seemingly increasing. In the particular example of the Shire Valley, this is likely due to its adaptability to a wide variety of grassland habitats. One study has estimated that at least 2,000 individuals are exported from the population of southern Mozambique each year, leading to a decline of populations in that area. [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

Finch Family of birds

The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate. They have a worldwide distribution except for Australia and the polar regions. The family Fringillidae contains more than two hundred species divided into fifty genera. It includes species known as siskins, canaries, redpolls, serins, grosbeaks and euphonias.

Atlantic canary Species of bird

The Atlantic canary, known worldwide simply as the wild canary and also called the island canary, common canary, or canary, is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Serinus in the finch family, Fringillidae. It is native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira. Wild birds are mostly yellow-green, with brownish streaking on the back. The species is common in captivity and a number of colour varieties have been bred.

<i>Serinus</i> Genus of birds

Serinus is a genus of small birds in the finch family Fringillidae found in Europe and Africa. The birds usually have some yellow in their plumage. The genus was introduced in 1816 by the German naturalist Carl Ludwig Koch. Its name is New Latin for "canary-yellow".

European serin

The European serin, or simply the serin, is the smallest European species of the family of finches (Fringillidae) and is closely related to the Atlantic canary. Its diet consists mainly of a combination of buds and seeds.

Yellow-fronted canary Species of bird

The yellow-fronted canary , also called the yellow-eyed canary, is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is known elsewhere and in aviculture as the green singing finch.

Citril finch Species of bird

The citril finch, also known as the Alpine citril finch, is a small songbird, a member of the true finch family, Fringillidae. For a long time, this cardueline finch was placed in the genus Serinus, but it is apparently very closely related to the European goldfinch.

The seedeaters are a form taxon of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively conical bill.

Syrian serin Species of bird

The Syrian serin is a brightly coloured small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

Yellow canary Species of bird

The yellow canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in much of the western and central regions of southern Africa and has been introduced to Ascension and St Helena islands.

Streaky-headed seedeater Species of bird

The streaky-headed seedeater or streaky-headed canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a common resident breeder in suitable habitats in southern Africa.

Protea canary Species of bird

The protea canary, also known as the protea seedeater, white-winged seedeater or Layard's seedeater, is a small passerine bird in the finch family.

The Ankober serin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is a small brown seedeater, about 12 centimeters or 5 inches in length with brown upperparts and its head and breast distinguished with heavy buffy-colored streaking. It is gregarious and is often encountered in flocks. Its song consists of a constant, low twitter.

Black-throated canary Species of bird

The black-throated canary, also known as the black-throated seedeater, is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.

Black-eared seedeater Species of bird

The black-eared seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and dry savanna.

Brown-rumped seedeater Species of bird

The brown-rumped seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in the highlands of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. It is widespread in towns, villages gardens, plantations and upland heath.

Salvadoris seedeater Species of bird

Salvadori's seedeater or Salvadori's serin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only in Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Yellow-rumped seedeater Species of bird

The yellow-rumped seedeater, yellow-rumped serin or Abyssinian yellow-rumped seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Reichenows seedeater Species of bird

Reichenow's seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the black-throated canary.

<i>Crithagra</i> Genus of birds

Crithagra is a genus of small passerine birds in the finch family (Fringillidae). They live in Africa and Arabia.

<i>Spinus</i> (bird) Genus of birds

Spinus is a genus of passerine birds in the finch family. It contains the North and South American siskins and goldfinches, as well as two Old World species. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek σπίνος spínos, a name for a now-unidentifiable bird.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Serinus citrinipectus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary (Serinus citrinipectus)." Handbook of the Birds of the World: Alive. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.hbw.com/species/lemon-breasted-canary-serinus-citrinipectus>.
  3. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary (Serinus Citrinipectus) - HBW 15, P. 527." The Internet Bird Collection. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/lemon-breasted-canary-serinus-citrinipectus>.
  4. ↑ Zuccon, Dario; Prŷs-Jones, Robert; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Ericson, Per G.P. (2012). "The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 62 (2): 581–596. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002. PMID   22023825.
  5. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Finches, euphonias". World Bird List Version 5.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Swainson, William (1827). "On several forms in ornithology not hitherto defined". Zoological Journal. 3: 348.
  7. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary, Lemon-breasted Serin." Serinus Society: European Society of Serinus Breeders. N.p., 05 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.serinus-society.eu/en/serinus-species/18 Archived 2016-04-15 at the Wayback Machine >.
  8. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary (Serinus citrinipectus) - HBW 15, P. 527." The Internet Bird Collection. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/lemon-breasted-canary-serinus-citrinipectus>.
  9. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Seedeater Serinus citrinipectus." BirdLife International. Ed. J. Pilgrim, J. Ekstrom, S. Butchart, M. Harding, and S. Fisher. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=8779>.
  10. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary, Lemon-breasted Serin." Serinus Society: European Society of Serinus Breeders. N.p., 05 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.serinus-society.eu/en/serinus-species/18 Archived 2016-04-15 at the Wayback Machine >.
  11. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Seedeater Serinus citrinipectus." BirdLife International. Ed. J. Pilgrim, J. Ekstrom, S. Butchart, M. Harding, and S. Fisher. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=8779>.
  12. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary, Lemon-breasted Serin." Serinus Society: European Society of Serinus Breeders. N.p., 05 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.serinus-society.eu/en/serinus-species/18 Archived 2016-04-15 at the Wayback Machine >.
  13. ↑ Chittenden, Hugh, and Guy Upfold. "Lemon-breasted Canary – an Unsuccessful Breeding Species." BirdInfo: Articles and News. N.p., 13 Feb. 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.birdinfo.co.za/rarebirds/22_lemon-breasted_canary.htm>.
  14. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Canary, Lemon-breasted Serin." Serinus Society: European Society of Serinus Breeders. N.p., 05 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.serinus-society.eu/en/serinus-species/18 Archived 2016-04-15 at the Wayback Machine >.
  15. ↑ "Lemon-breasted Seedeater Serinus Citrinipectus." BirdLife International. Ed. J. Pilgrim, J. Ekstrom, S. Butchart, M. Harding, and S. Fisher. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=8779>.
  16. ↑ Chittenden, Hugh, and Guy Upfold. "Lemon-breasted Canary – an Unsuccessful Breeding Species." BirdInfo: Articles and News. N.p., 13 Feb. 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.birdinfo.co.za/rarebirds/22_lemon-breasted_canary.htm>.
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