Grey-headed negrofinch

Nigrita canicapillus

Photo by David Beadle (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
grey-headed negrofinch (en); negrinha-de-cabeça-cinzenta (pt); nigrette à calotte grise (fr); negrita canosa (es); graunackenschwärzling (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Estrildidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea eastwards to southern Nigeria and Cameroon, east to Uganda and Kenya and southwards into northern Tanzania, D.R. Congo and northern Angola.

Size:
These birds are 13-14 cm long and weigh 17-21 g.

Habitat:
The grey-headed negrofinch is mostly found in moist tropical forests, particularly in forest edges and clearings, along roads and streams in primary forests and in gallery forest. they also use palm plantations. They are more common in lowland areas but occur from sea level up to an altitude of 3.350 m.

Diet:
They feed on small insects, including ants, termites and larvae, also taking fruits, seeds and occasionally nectar.

Breeding:
Grey-headed negrofinches can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. There is no further available information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common to common and widespread. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.