Black-eared Seedeater
Crithagra mennelli
Woodland. Distinctive black mask; upperparts dark grey with streaking on head; lighter streaking on breast; gregarious.
Buntings, Canaries, Siskins
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Fairly common, localised resident. Distinguished from [Streaky-headed Seedeater] by darker upper parts plus breast streaking. Male has bold black mask, browner in female and immature. In summer, male sings for long periods ‘teeu-twee-teu, twiddy-twee-twee’. Pairs and small parties occur in broad-leaved woodland, often in bird parties, feeding in trees or on the ground.
Quick Facts
Size
13-14 cm S
Names
A: Swartoorkanarie
G: Schwarzwangengirlitz
Bird Family
Sparrow-sized or smaller songbirds. Canaries and siskins have strong conical bills, usually notched tails and undulating flight. Buntings are strongly terrestrial and have weaker, narrower bills. Many species are nomadic.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Pairs and small parties occur in 'broad-leaved woodland', often in bird parties, feeding in trees or on the ground.
