African chaffinch

Appearance

The African chaffinch is a medium to large finch that is typically 13.8–18.5 cm in length and weighs 21–24g. Males and females have different characteristics. The adult male has a blue-grey head with a small patch of black above the bill on the forehead, and a moss-green mantle; its wings are black with two bold white stripes and white edges to the tertials and secondaries; the tail is blue-grey with white sides. The male's throat, breast, and belly are pale pinkish, grading to white on the lower belly and undertail. The legs dark pinkish-brown, and the bill is silvery blue-grey with a black tip. In winter, the males are duller in plumage, with the head more grey-brown and the mantle more brownish-green. Females and juveniles are greyish brown; they have dark brown and white stripes on the wings and a lighter brown and white underbelly; their heads are a dull greyish brown and have brown legs.

In winter, Eurasian chaffinch occurs as a non-breeding winter visitor in northwest Africa and can occur together with African chaffinches.

Naming

It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Eurasian chaffinch. Its habitat includes deciduous forests and lowlands, and during the nonbreeding season extends its habitat to open areas including weedy fields and olive groves.

Distribution

The African chaffinch is found from southern Morocco to northwestern Libya, and in Italy on the islands of Lampedusa and Pantelleria, off the Tunisian coast in the Strait of Sicily; there is also an isolated population in northeastern Libya. The species is non-migratory and usually disperses only over short distances.

Status

Although this bird is generally uncommon, it is locally common, and not under immediate threat of extinction.

Behavior

The song is similar to the Eurasian chaffinch, but faster and more rhythmic, and lacking the flourish at the end. Its call sounds like a soft "hwit" sound singularly or in series or a high pitched "wee". Sometimes these two calls are given together in a series.The African chaffinch breeds from mid-March to mid-July. Their nests are placed on a trunk, branch, or in the fork of a bush or tree. Their nests are a deep cup made of moss, lichens, grass, plant fibres, animal hair and feathers, grass, fine roots, and bark strips. It breeds primarily in lowland woodlands, typically containing oak, hornbeam, and pine, though some also breed in gardens and parks.

Habitat

The African chaffinch typically occurs in deciduous forests and Lowlands comprising a mix of trees such as maple, hornbeam, oak, and pine, alongside forest edges and clearings. In the Moroccan High Atlas it is found in "Juniperus thurifera" woods. During the non-breeding season, it extends its range to similar habitats and open agricultural areas, including weedy fields, stubble fields, olive groves, palm groves, and desert oases.

Reproduction

The African chaffinch breeds from mid-March to mid-July. Their nests are placed on a trunk, branch, or in the fork of a bush or tree. Their nests are a deep cup made of moss, lichens, grass, plant fibres, animal hair and feathers, grass, fine roots, and bark strips. It breeds primarily in lowland woodlands, typically containing oak, hornbeam, and pine, though some also breed in gardens and parks.

Food

The diet of the African chaffinch is similar to the Eurasian chaffinch, mostly eating small invertebrates and their larvae, as well as flowers, seeds, and buds.