The Seychelles fody (Foudia sechellarum) is a small yellowish songbird that are native to the Seychelles islands of Cousin Island, Cousine Island, Frégate Island, and have been introduced to Aride Island, D'Arros Island and as of 2004 Denis Island. Their natural habitat is woodland, but they have adapted to living in such habitats as coconut plantations and gardens.[1]
The male Seychelles fody has a yellow face in breeding plumage which the female lacks. The plumage is in general a drab olive and the beak is black. This bird grows to a length of about 12.5 cm (5 in). The female and juvenile resembles the female and juvenile red fody (Foudia madagascariensis), but can be distinguished by having upper parts with less streaking.[1]
Ecologyedit
The Seychelles fody feeds mainly on insects and other small arthropods, as well as eating fruit, nectar and seeds. It has been known to feed on the eggs of seabirds such as the White tern. The diet includes bugs, beetles, ants and spiders. On Cousin, this bird has a clearly defined breeding season, between May and September, after which period it moults. On some other islands it seems to breed throughout the year.[2] It shares the same habitat in the Seychelles with a related introduced species, the red fody.[1]
Statusedit
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has recently changed the status of the bird from "endangered" to "near threatened" due to successful conservation efforts by Nature Seychelles.[1] Presently it is estimated that there are approximately 3500 Seychelles fodies. Introductions, by relocating birds to predator-free islands, have helped the birds to increase their numbers and newly introduced birds to the island of Aride managed three breeding attempts in the first thirteen months they were there.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefBirdLife International (2018). "Foudia sechellarum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22719155A131885109. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22719155A131885109.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Craig, A. "Seychelles Fody (Foudia sechellarum)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Foudia sechellarum.
Seychelles fody species page on Weaver Watch
April 12, 2024
seychelles, fody, foudia, sechellarum, small, yellowish, songbird, that, native, seychelles, islands, cousin, island, cousine, island, frégate, island, have, been, introduced, aride, island, arros, island, 2004, denis, island, their, natural, habitat, woodland. The Seychelles fody Foudia sechellarum is a small yellowish songbird that are native to the Seychelles islands of Cousin Island Cousine Island Fregate Island and have been introduced to Aride Island D Arros Island and as of 2004 Denis Island Their natural habitat is woodland but they have adapted to living in such habitats as coconut plantations and gardens 1 Seychelles fodyon a 1979 stamp of SeychellesConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily PloceidaeGenus FoudiaSpecies F sechellarumBinomial nameFoudia sechellarumE Newton 1867 Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Status 4 References 5 External linksDescription editThe male Seychelles fody has a yellow face in breeding plumage which the female lacks The plumage is in general a drab olive and the beak is black This bird grows to a length of about 12 5 cm 5 in The female and juvenile resembles the female and juvenile red fody Foudia madagascariensis but can be distinguished by having upper parts with less streaking 1 Ecology editThe Seychelles fody feeds mainly on insects and other small arthropods as well as eating fruit nectar and seeds It has been known to feed on the eggs of seabirds such as the White tern The diet includes bugs beetles ants and spiders On Cousin this bird has a clearly defined breeding season between May and September after which period it moults On some other islands it seems to breed throughout the year 2 It shares the same habitat in the Seychelles with a related introduced species the red fody 1 Status editThe International Union for Conservation of Nature has recently changed the status of the bird from endangered to near threatened due to successful conservation efforts by Nature Seychelles 1 Presently it is estimated that there are approximately 3500 Seychelles fodies Introductions by relocating birds to predator free islands have helped the birds to increase their numbers and newly introduced birds to the island of Aride managed three breeding attempts in the first thirteen months they were there 1 References edit a b c d e f BirdLife International 2018 Foudia sechellarum IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22719155A131885109 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22719155A131885109 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Craig A Seychelles Fody Foudia sechellarum Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona Retrieved 15 November 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Foudia sechellarum Photo and habits of the Seychelles fody Seychelles fody species page on Weaver Watch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seychelles fody amp oldid 1159052264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
