Shelley's Crimson-wing
Encyclopedia
Shelley's Crimson-wing Cryptospiza shelleyi is a vulnerable
species of estrildid finch
found in Burundi
, eastern The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
and western Uganda
in Africa
. It has shown population decline over the past few decades, with a current population estimate of 2 500 - 9 999. This is possibly related to uncontrolled deforestation
.
Its voice is sharp and high-pitched with "tit tit tit" call. Rising and falling series of high-pitched "tu tutu ti ti ti".
It can be found at some parts of the mountains of the Albertine Rift, including the Itombwe Mountain, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
and mountains at the west of Lake Kivu
in Democratic Republic of Congo, Nyungwe Forest
, Gishwati, Makwa and Mukura Forest in Rwanda
, Bururi Forest and elsewhere in Burundi
, the Rwenzori Mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
in Uganda
, as well as the Virunga Mountain. It is generally rare, only being common in a few threatened forests, which shows unexplained fluctuations in abundance.
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nyungwe Forest Reserve in Rwanda, and Rwenzori Mountains National Park
and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
in Uganda.
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
species of estrildid finch
Estrildid finch
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae , or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows....
found in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, eastern The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and western Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It has shown population decline over the past few decades, with a current population estimate of 2 500 - 9 999. This is possibly related to uncontrolled deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
.
Identification
It is a brightly-coloured finch found at low levels. It is approximately 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long. The male Shelley's Crimson-wing has bright red crown, face and back, with contrasting black wings and tail, as well as olive-yellow underparts with warmer tones on flanks and belly. The female drabber has an olive head and some red on mantle and rump. Both sexes have bright red bills.Its voice is sharp and high-pitched with "tit tit tit" call. Rising and falling series of high-pitched "tu tutu ti ti ti".
Habitat
Shelley's Crimson-wing inhabits the closed-canopy moist forest, often in lush valley bottoms near water, as well as low secondary growth at forest edges, forest clearings and glades dominated by large herbs, bamboo thickets and the upper forest/moorland ecotone.It can be found at some parts of the mountains of the Albertine Rift, including the Itombwe Mountain, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park is in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, 50 km west of the town of Bukavu in the Kivu Region, near to the western side of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border....
and mountains at the west of Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika...
in Democratic Republic of Congo, Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a national park in southwestern Rwanda, located south of Lake Kivu on the border with Burundi. The park was established in 2004 and covers an area of approximately 970 km² of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs. The nearest town is Cyangugu, 54 km to the...
, Gishwati, Makwa and Mukura Forest in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Bururi Forest and elsewhere in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, the Rwenzori Mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large primeval forest in the Virunga Volcanoes mountain range, and is located in south-western Uganda on the edge of the western Great Rift Valley. It is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, where half the world's population of highly endangered...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, as well as the Virunga Mountain. It is generally rare, only being common in a few threatened forests, which shows unexplained fluctuations in abundance.
Conservation measures
IUCN has proposed that researchers investigate declines and fluctuations in Shelley's Crimson-wing population, in order to assess threats of extinction. This includes surveying the extent of its habitat. The species is currently being researched in low density areas, including the Virunga National ParkVirunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nyungwe Forest Reserve in Rwanda, and Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a Ugandan national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Rwenzori Mountains. Almost in size, the park has Africa's third highest mountain peak and many waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers. The park is known for its beautiful plant life.-History:Rwenzori...
and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Great Rift Valley...
in Uganda.