Black-bellied Seedcracker
Pyrenestes ostrinus
The Black-bellied Seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus) is a rare munias, parrotfinches, waxbills, and alli found in 16 countries, weighing about 22 g. The black-bellied seedcracker is a bird species of the family Estrildidae.
About the Black-bellied Seedcracker
The black-bellied seedcracker is a bird species of the family Estrildidae. They live in most Central African countries and inhabit tropical rainforest. The species comprises individuals with different physical appearance which are grouped into three categories. Adults are mainly granivorous but diet preference varies with bill size and food availability. Black-bellied seedcrackers also exhibit very distinctive colorations with bright patches of black and red, making them easy to identify in the field. Overall, little is known about this species apart from its range, but intensive studies are currently looking at bill size variations among individuals and their effects on behaviors.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Black-bellied seedcrackers are small passerine birds, measuring about 15 cm and exhibiting the typical silhouette of finch family members. The species is quite common across its range and easy to identify due to its body coloration which also earned its name. Indeed, a black bright patch covers its belly and back, and stands out against the redness of its head, chest and tail. There is a slight difference in coloration between sexes: where males exhibit those intense black patches, females are colored in dull brown. Females also tend to be smaller in size. Voice: Black-bellied seedcrackers, like most finches, are very social birds and thus maintain strong vocal bonds. They use calls made of low "peenk" to keep contact with each other while foraging or not in sighting positions, whereas their alarm call comprises "terr" sounds. Those are the common vocalization of black-bellied seedcrackers.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Black-bellied Seedcracker can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-bellied Seedcracker?
- Black-bellied seedcrackers are small passerine birds, measuring about 15 cm and exhibiting the typical silhouette of finch family members. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-bellied Seedcracker?
- The Black-bellied Seedcracker is a small sized bird weighing about 22 g.
- Where can you see a Black-bellied Seedcracker?
- The Black-bellied Seedcracker occurs in 16 countries, including Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Cameroon and Nigeria.
- What birds look similar to a Black-bellied Seedcracker?
- The Black-bellied Seedcracker is most easily confused with the Lesser Seedcracker and the Crimson Seedcracker.
- Is the Black-bellied Seedcracker endangered?
- The Black-bellied Seedcracker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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