Tits and Chickadees (Paridae)
Rufous-bellied Tit (Parus rufiventris) - HBW 12, p. 733
French: Mésange à ventre cannelle
German: Rostbauchmeise
Spanish: Carbonero Ventrirrufo
Other common names: Rufous Tit
Taxonomy: Parus rufiventris Bocage, 1877, Caconda, Angola.
Forms a superspecies with P. pallidiventris and P. fringillinus. Has been considered conspecific with former, but differs in eye colour (possibly age-related) and belly colour (varies clinally); hybridization not proven, and identity of supposed intermediates (based chiefly on eye coloration) uncertain; further research required. Races intergrade widely. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- rufiventris Bocage, 1877 - S PRCongo and SW & S DRCongo S to C Angola and C Zambia.
- diligens Clancey, 1979 - S Angola, N Namibia, SW Zambia and NW Botswana.
- masukuensis Shelley, 1900 - SE DRCongo, E Zambia and Malawi.
- Least Concern
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