Aldabra fody
Aldabra fody | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Ploceidae |
Genus: | Foudia |
Species: | F. aldabrana
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Binomial name | |
Foudia aldabrana Ridgway, 1893
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Synonyms[2] | |
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The Aldabra fody (Foudia aldabrana) is a
Taxonomy
The Aldabra fody was described as Foudia aldabrana by
The Aldabra fody has been known to hybridize with its relative the
Description
The Aldabra fody's bill is markedly long and heavy, a distinctive characteristic.
Voice
There were no published recordings of the Aldabra fody's vocalizations as of 2013, but they have been well-described. There are a great variety, with many based on high-pitched and metallic two-eet, twee, or tee calls. They produce a trilling song sequence consisting of a variety of notes, described by one study as tsee-oo tsee-oo tsee-oo fsssssss looklooklooklooklook. Males generate a nasal "fizzing" noise associated with territorial defense, suggested by one ornithological encyclopedia to correspond to the fsssssss noise reported in the study. Birds advertise their territory with clear and loud tweet tweet two-eet, or simply tweet or two-eet notes. They may also produce three rapid, lower notes followed by two or three higher notes with more deliberation: teetiti twee twee. Males and females have different alarm sounds, with males trilling excitedly while females scold loudly and continuously (tic-tic tzip tic tzip tzip tic-tic). Females give a zeep zeep when soliciting copulation, with a psep pseep after mating.[5]
Distribution and habitat
The Aldabra fody is
The Aldabra fody can be found in scrub,
Behavior and ecology
Reproduction
Adult males spend most of the year defending and maintaining nesting territories.[11] They are strongly territorial, with a characteristic threat display consisting of drooping the wings and tail while puffing out the feathers of the head, breast, and rump.[10] Intruders are challenged with a variety of calls; this may occur with a female, but upon recognition, the calls become a series of high whistles, uttered by one or both. The male then raises its wings above its back, and, if accepted, mounts and copulates with the female, wings remaining raised. Copulation has been observed in November and December.[10]
Nesting has been reported in November, December, and January, probably extending to February or March.
Diet
The Aldabra fody consumes seeds (including those of Casuarina trees), flowers, and beetles, which are collected from bushes, trees, and the ground. They may also take other small invertebrates.[10] They also consume nectar, and their tongue is somewhat adapted for this purpose.[11] Rice and kitchen scraps are taken near human settlement,[10] while unripe maize is eaten only when already opened by rats.[13] Due to the strength of their bills, this may be due to unfamiliarity.[10] The large bill may be a product of adaptive radiation, designed to compete with other land-dwelling birds of the atoll by exploiting all available sources of food.[9]
Conservation
The Aldabra fody's nesting success may be very low due to the rate at which nestlings and eggs are taken by predators such as the
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Shelley, George Ernest; Grönvold, Henrik; Sclater, William Lutley (1905). The birds of Africa, comprising all the species which occur in the Ethiopian region. Published for the author by R.H. Porter (18 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W.). p. 491. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Ridgway, Robert (16 August 1893). "Descriptions of some new birds collected on the islands of Aldabra and Assumption, northwest of Madagascar, by Dr. W. L. Abbott" (PDF). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. XVI (953): 598. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Woodall, P.F. (2018). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Aldabra Fody (Foudia aldabrana)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4729-8289-6. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- .
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Old World sparrows, snowfinches, weavers". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c d e Skerrett, Adrian (March 1999). "Birds of Aldabra". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 6 (1). African Bird Club: 42–47. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Gaymer, R. (15 November 1967). "Observations on the birds of Aldabra in 1964 and 1965" (PDF). Atoll Research Bulletin (118). Smithsonian Institution: 113–125. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ . Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ a b Bendire, Charles (1894). "Description of nests and eggs of some new birds, collected on the island of Aldabra, northwest of Madagascar, by Dr. W. L. Abbott" (PDF). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. XVII (983): 40. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Ridgway, Robert (1895). "On birds collected by Doctor W. L. Abbott in the Seychelles, Amirantes, Gloriosa, Assumption, Aldabra, and adjacent islands, with notes on habits, etc., by the collector". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. XVIII. Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.]: 539. Retrieved 26 November 2023.