Biology:Red-backed mannikin

Short description: Species of bird

Red-backed mannikin
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Spermestes
Species:	S. nigriceps
Binomial name
Spermestes nigriceps (Cassin, 1852)
Synonyms
Spermestes nigriceps Spermestes bicolor nigriceps Spermestes bicolor woltersi

The red-backed mannikin (Spermestes nigriceps), also known as the brown-backed mannikin or brown-backed munia, is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa.

Taxonomy

This taxon has been considered a subspecies of S. bicolor, the black-and-white mannikin.

Distribution and habitat

It occurs in Angola, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa , Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is found in moist savanna and subtropical/ tropical lowland moist forest habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as being of Least Concern.

Gallery

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  Adult, Malawi

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  Immature, KwaZulu-Natal

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  Immature, KwaZulu-Natal

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  Partially leucistic adult, KwaZulu-Natal

References

• BirdLife Species Factsheet

External links

• Red-backed mannikin - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.

Wikidata ☰ Q2937722 entry