Finches (Fringillidae)
African Citril (Serinus citrinelloides) - HBW 15, p. 521
French: Serin d'Abyssinie
German: Dünnschnabelgirlitz
Spanish: Serín Etíope
Other common names: Abyssinian Citril (citrinelloides); Western Citril (frontalis); Kenya Citril (kikuyensis); Eastern/East African/Southern/Tanzanian Citril (hypostictus)
Taxonomy: Serinus citrinelloides Rüppell, 1840, Simen, Ethiopia.
Forms a superspecies with S. capistratus. Nominate race (with brittoni) and frontalis (with kikuyensis) have been considered to comprise two separate species, with hypostictus comprising a further species; ranges almost continuous, however, and brittoni and kikuyensis overlap in small area of W Kenya; also, although plumage variation well marked, vocal differences evident only in songs of nominate and frontalis. From limited mitochondrial DNA analysis, nominate race and hypostictus appear genetically very close, and it has recentl.. View all taxonomy...
Forms a superspecies with S. capistratus. Nominate race (with brittoni) and frontalis (with kikuyensis) have been considered to comprise two separate species, with hypostictus comprising a further species; ranges almost continuous, however, and brittoni and kikuyensis overlap in small area of W Kenya; also, although plumage variation well marked, vocal differences evident only in songs of nominate and frontalis. From limited mitochondrial DNA analysis, nominate race and hypostictus appear genetically very close, and it has recently been proposed that they be placed in a separate genus, Dendrospiza, along with S. capistratus, being only distantly related to other members of present genus. Detailed consideration of all taxa currently included in present genus is required, however, before species limits can be determined or full generic revision be made. In addition, birds described from E Angola (Calunda, in E Moxico) proposed as race martinsi, but known only from type specimen, and no further records of the species from that country. Five subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- citrinelloides Rüppell, 1840 - N Eritrea to C & S Ethiopia.
- brittoni Traylor, 1970 - SE Sudan and extreme W Kenya.
- frontalis Reichenow, 1904 - NE, E & SE DRCongo to W, C & S Uganda, W Tanzania and NE Zambia.
- citrinelloides Rüppell, 1840 - N Eritrea to C & S Ethiopia.
- brittoni Traylor, 1970 - SE Sudan and extreme W Kenya.
- frontalis Reichenow, 1904 - NE, E & SE DRCongo to W, C & S Uganda, W Tanzania and NE Zambia.
- kikuyensis ( Neumann, 1905) - SW Kenya.
- hypostictus ( Reichenow, 1904) - SE Kenya to extreme NE Zambia and Malawi.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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male feeding on footpath Locality Hawassa, Awassa Lake, SNNPR Region, Ethiopia (ssp citrinelloides)
Martin Kennewell 3 November 2010 2 years ago 42 sec 4.5 -
A female feeding in a bush. Locality Debre Zeit, Ethiopia (ssp citrinelloides)
Josep del Hoyo 21 December 2005 6 years ago 23 sec 4 -
A female in a bush, preening and calling Locality Gefersa Reservoir, Ethiopia (ssp citrinelloides)
Josep del Hoyo 23 November 2005 7 years ago 32 sec 4 -
eating seeds Locality Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda (ssp frontalis)
Daniêl Jimenez 19 September 2010 2 years ago 27 sec 3.8 -
A frontal view of a male on the top of a tree and flying away Locality Buhoma, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda (ssp barbatus)
Josep del Hoyo 8 September 2006 5 years ago 20 sec 3.7 -
A female feeding in a bush. Locality Lake Langano, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp citrinelloides)
Josep del Hoyo 30 November 2005 7 years ago 23 sec 3.7
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A male feeding.
Locality Bale Mountains National Park, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp citrinelloides)
Nik Borrow 21 December 2012 22 weeks ago 4.3 -
A bird on a sandy slope
Locality Hora Crater Lake, Ethiopia
Krzysztof Blachowiak 11 November 2009 32 weeks ago 4 -
An african citril, resting on an agave americana
Locality Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Frank Sandvoss 10 June 2011 1 year ago 4 -
Standing in a bush
Locality Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
John A Thompson 14 January 2012 1 year ago 3.8 -
a female feeding on a thistle plant
Locality Ethiopia
Stefan Helming 5 May 2009 4 years ago 3.8 -
adult female
Locality Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Marco Valentini 27 December 2012 17 weeks ago 3.8
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A bird calling. Locality Gefersa Reservoir, Ethiopia
Josep del Hoyo 24 November 2005 3 years ago 3
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