Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Brimstone Canary (Crithagra sulphurata), male
Brimstone Canary, Male

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

The Brimstone Canary, also known as the Bully Canary, is a small, robust passerine bird belonging to the finch family. It is characterized by its heavy, conical bill, which is stout at the base and light brown with a pinkish or yellowish hue. The bird's plumage is a blend of yellow-green with dark green streaking, and it sports two yellow wing bars. The underparts are predominantly yellow, tinged with green on the flanks and breast. Males are typically more vibrant than females, with a more pronounced facial pattern and brighter wing bars.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Brimstone Canary, look for its 15-16 cm length and its distinctive bill, which is short and robust. The legs and feet are pinkish-brown. The bird's upper parts are yellow-green with streaks, and it has yellow-green ear coverts and a malar stripe. The rump may appear greenish, and the sexes are similar, though males are more vivid and have a larger bill. Juveniles are duller and less yellow below than adults.

Habitat

This species thrives in open, lightly wooded habitats, including hillsides with trees or scrub and forest edges. In South Africa, it is commonly found in coastal bush, shrubs along streams, gardens, and areas with dense vegetation.

Distribution

The Brimstone Canary is a resident breeder in central and southern Africa. It is not truly migratory but may exhibit some seasonal movements within its range.

Behaviour

The Brimstone Canary is less social than other canaries, often seen alone or in pairs, and sometimes in small groups. It is a familiar visitor to gardens.

Song & Calls

In the southern part of its range, the Brimstone Canary's call is a trilled, deep-pitched "swirriwirrit" or "chirrup." Its song is a complex mix of chirps, whistles, warbles, and trills, sharing the deep pitch of its call. Northern birds produce a faster, higher-pitched, and more melodious song.

Breeding

Breeding season for the Brimstone Canary spans from August to October. The nest is an open cup made from thin stems and other plant materials, lined with plant down, and situated in a leafy bush or tree.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of fruit, seeds, flowers, and shoots. The bird's stout bill is adept at cracking hard seed cases.

Conservation status

The Brimstone Canary is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating it is not currently at significant risk of extinction in the wild.

Similar Species

Potential confusion may arise with the Yellow-fronted Canary, which is smaller-billed and has a more defined head pattern and a bright yellow rump. The Yellow Canary, which shares its range, is also similar in appearance.

Brimstone Canary Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Brimstone Canaries on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Finches, Euphonias

A photo of a Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret) , male

Lesser Redpoll

Acanthis cabaret
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.