Green-winged Pytilia
Pytilia melba
Green-winged Pytilia, seed and insect eater in African savannas and farmlands.
| Scientific name | Pytilia melba |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Kipepeo wa majani wa Pytilia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Emberizidae |
| Size | Male: approximately 10-11 cm, weight about 12-15 g; female: slightly smaller and somewhat lighter |
How to identify
Plumage mainly gray, wings with bright green wing feathers; chest and abdomen with red spots; short, stout red bill; short tail with white spots at the tip.
Habitat
Open woodland savanna, shrubland, open grasslands, and edges of farmland
Diet
Omnivorous, primarily feeding on small seeds, also preys on small insects
When it is active
Diurnal, active during the day
Where it lives
Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and Maasai Mara National Reserve
How to spot it
Look for it at dawn or dusk in open woodland savanna or shrub edges, note its bright green wing feathers and red spots, use binoculars for better observation
Photography tips
Use a telephoto lens to capture detailed colors, photograph in soft morning or evening light, choose a simple background to highlight colors
Threats
Habitat loss due to habitat destruction and agricultural expansion
Similar species
Red-billed Pytilia (Pytilia phoenicoptera), distinguished by a more concentrated red chest and absence of green wing feathers
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