This species is sometimes considered to be conspecific with the Cape siskin (Crithagra totta) of southern Cape Province, in which case the nominate western form is C. t. totta, and the eastern form is C. t. symonsi.
This locally common but shy and unobtrusive siskin is found in the scrubby valleys and hillsides of the Drakensberg mountains.
The Drakensberg siskin was formerly placed in the genusSerinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic.[2] The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the Drakensberg siskin were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.[3][4]
Description
The Drakensberg siskin averages 13–14 cm in length. The tail has white sides, a feature which is diagnostic for both sexes, and especially visible in flight. The adult male has a faintly streaked light brown back, light brown wing coverts, rump and upper tail, and yellow underparts. The head and nape sides are yellowish grey and olive. The throat is bright yellow, but the rest of the underparts are a somewhat duller shade.
The female has similar but duller upperparts and has no yellow in the plumage. The head and underparts are buff with much fine dark brown streaks on the head and breast. The juvenile plumage is much like the female's but with heavier streaking.
There is no range overlap with the slightly smaller Cape siskin, which has white spots on the flight feathers and tail and more uniform upperparts.
The Drakensberg siskin's call is a schwee, often given in flight. and the song, like that of Cape siskin, is a weak, pleasant warble similar to the yellow-fronted canary.
Behaviour
Breeding
One reason for the taxonomic uncertainty with this species is that, if it is a true siskin, it is the only one which breeds in cavities. A shallow cup nest is constructed in cracks or holes in rocks, on ledges or amongst vegetation, especially ferns. Natural hollows in trees are rarely used.
The nest is constructed by the female with fine plant material, lined with plant down and animal hair. The clutch is three or four, occasionally five, eggs, incubated by the female. She is fed by the male on the nest by regurgitation.
Feeding
The Drakensberg siskin is seen in pairs or small flock, moving unobtrusively through bushes and scrub as it forages for seeds (including proteas), buds and insects.
References
^BirdLife International (2016). "Crithagra symonsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22720292A94663958. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22720292A94663958.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Zuccon, Dario; Prŷs-Jones, Robert; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Ericson, Per G.P. (2012). "The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 62 (2): 581–596. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002. PMID 22023825.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Finches, euphonias". World Bird List Version 5.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
^Swainson, William (1827). "On several forms in ornithology not hitherto defined". Zoological Journal. 3: 348.
Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN1-86872-721-1
Clement, Harris and Davis, Finches and Sparrows by ISBN0-7136-8017-2
External links
Drakensberg siskin - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
January 30, 2023
drakensberg, siskin, crithagra, symonsi, small, passerine, bird, finch, family, endemic, resident, breeder, eastern, cape, province, transkei, western, natal, south, africa, lesotho, malea, female, sani, passconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific. The Drakensberg siskin Crithagra symonsi is a small passerine bird in the finch family It is an endemic resident breeder in the eastern Cape Province Transkei and western Natal in South Africa and in Lesotho Drakensberg siskinA maleA female at Sani PassConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily FringillidaeSubfamily CarduelinaeGenus CrithagraSpecies C symonsiBinomial nameCrithagra symonsi Roberts 1916 General range the Drakensberg alti montane grasslandsSynonymsSerinus symonsiPseudochloroptila symonsiThis species is sometimes considered to be conspecific with the Cape siskin Crithagra totta of southern Cape Province in which case the nominate western form is C t totta and the eastern form is C t symonsi This locally common but shy and unobtrusive siskin is found in the scrubby valleys and hillsides of the Drakensberg mountains Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Behaviour 3 1 Breeding 3 2 Feeding 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy EditThe Drakensberg siskin was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic 2 The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the Drakensberg siskin were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra 3 4 Description EditThe Drakensberg siskin averages 13 14 cm in length The tail has white sides a feature which is diagnostic for both sexes and especially visible in flight The adult male has a faintly streaked light brown back light brown wing coverts rump and upper tail and yellow underparts The head and nape sides are yellowish grey and olive The throat is bright yellow but the rest of the underparts are a somewhat duller shade The female has similar but duller upperparts and has no yellow in the plumage The head and underparts are buff with much fine dark brown streaks on the head and breast The juvenile plumage is much like the female s but with heavier streaking There is no range overlap with the slightly smaller Cape siskin which has white spots on the flight feathers and tail and more uniform upperparts The Drakensberg siskin s call is a schwee often given in flight and the song like that of Cape siskin is a weak pleasant warble similar to the yellow fronted canary Behaviour EditBreeding Edit One reason for the taxonomic uncertainty with this species is that if it is a true siskin it is the only one which breeds in cavities A shallow cup nest is constructed in cracks or holes in rocks on ledges or amongst vegetation especially ferns Natural hollows in trees are rarely used The nest is constructed by the female with fine plant material lined with plant down and animal hair The clutch is three or four occasionally five eggs incubated by the female She is fed by the male on the nest by regurgitation Feeding Edit The Drakensberg siskin is seen in pairs or small flock moving unobtrusively through bushes and scrub as it forages for seeds including proteas buds and insects References Edit BirdLife International 2016 Crithagra symonsi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22720292A94663958 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22720292A94663958 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Zuccon Dario Prŷs Jones Robert Rasmussen Pamela C Ericson Per G P 2012 The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches Fringillidae PDF Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 62 2 581 596 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2011 10 002 PMID 22023825 Gill Frank Donsker David eds Finches euphonias World Bird List Version 5 2 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 5 June 2015 Swainson William 1827 On several forms in ornithology not hitherto defined Zoological Journal 3 348 Ian Sinclair Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton SASOL Birds of Southern Africa Struik 2002 ISBN 1 86872 721 1 Clement Harris and Davis Finches and Sparrows by ISBN 0 7136 8017 2External links EditDrakensberg siskin Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drakensberg siskin amp oldid 1123680353, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
