Orange-winged Pytilia

The Orange-winged Pytilia, Pytilia afra, also known as the Golden-backed Pytilia, is a diminutive estrildid finch adorned with a vibrant palette of colors. Males are particularly striking with their red faces and contrasting grey crowns, while females exhibit a more subdued greyish head without the red. Both sexes share the characteristic olive-green back and the unique orange wing patches that give this species its name.

Identification Tips

To identify the male Orange-winged Pytilia, look for the red forehead, face, and chin, complemented by a grey crown and nape. The back is a green with an olive hue, and the wings boast orange coverts with blackish-brown flight feathers edged in orange. The rump is a vivid crimson, and the tail feathers are red on the outer webs, transitioning to brown on the inner. The female lacks the male's red facial coloring and has broader bars on the underparts.

Habitat

The Orange-winged Pytilia favors the edges of forests, miombo woodlands, and wooded grasslands, typically in areas with ample moisture. It thrives at elevations up to 1,800 meters above sea level.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa, with sightings in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Behaviour

The Orange-winged Pytilia is a sociable bird, often seen in small flocks, which may gather into larger congregations outside the breeding season. It forages primarily on the ground, feasting on seeds and likely supplementing its diet with insects. It is known to travel considerable distances in search of sustenance when not breeding.

Song & Calls

The call of the Orange-winged Pytilia is a distinctive 'seee', while its song consists of rapidly repeated whistles, a delightful auditory signature in its natural habitat.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by region, with April to May in the southeastern Congo Basin, January to May in Zambia and Zimbabwe, March to June in Malawi, and April to June in Tanzania. The incubation period for the eggs is 12 to 13 days, followed by a nestling period of 21 days.

Similar Species

The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is a known brood parasite of the Orange-winged Pytilia and has evolved to mimic its call, which can lead to confusion between the two species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Orange-winged Pytilia consists mainly of seeds, with a probable inclusion of insects to provide a balanced nutritional intake.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Orange-winged Pytilia as Least Concern, indicating a stable population trend across its large range. However, it is sometimes captured for the pet trade, which could pose a threat to local populations.