| Protea canary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Illustration by William Matthew Hart, 1888 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Crithagra |
| Species: | C. leucoptera |
| Binomial name | |
| Crithagra leucoptera Sharpe, 1871 | |
| Synonyms | |
Serinus leucopterus | |
The protea canary (Crithagra leucoptera), also known as the protea seedeater, white-winged seedeater or Layard's seedeater, is a small passerine bird in the finch family.
The protea canary was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. [2] The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the protea canary were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra . [3] [4]
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 a sweet. The song is a loud medley of warbles and trills, with much mimicry.
It is an endemic resident breeder in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. This species is found in mature protea scrub, tangled valley thickets and forests in the mountains of the Western Cape Province. Its range does not reach the coast.
The protea canary builds an open cup nest from thin stems and other plant material and lined with plant down. It is placed in a dense bush.
The protea canary is less gregarious than other canaries. It tends to be found singly or in pairs, or occasionally in small groups. It is a shy and retiring bird which stays in thick vegetation. When it flies, it soon dives back into cover. It feeds on seeds, (particularly those of proteas, Othonna amplericaules and Rhus anarcardia ) and some fruit, nectar and shoots. Insects are occasionally eaten.
The yellow-fronted canary , is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is known elsewhere and in aviculture as the green singing finch.
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.
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.
The Cape siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is an endemic resident breeder in the southern Cape Province of South Africa.
The brimstone canary or bully canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in central and southern Africa.
The Drakensberg siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is an endemic resident breeder in the eastern Cape Province Transkei and western Natal in South Africa, and in Lesotho.
The white-throated canary is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
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.
The black-throated canary, also known as the black-throated seedeater, is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
The thick-billed seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The lemon-breasted canary, 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.
The yellow-throated seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only in Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The white-rumped seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found throughout the Sahel and the eastern part of the Sudan region. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is known elsewhere and in aviculture as the grey singing finch.
The Kipengere seedeater, also known as the Tanzania seedeater, is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only in Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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.
Reichard's seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is native to the miombo savanna . It is named after the German explorer Paul Reichard.
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.
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.
Reichenow's seedeater is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the black-throated canary.
Crithagra is a genus of small passerine birds in the finch family (Fringillidae). They live in Africa and Arabia.
