Shelley’s Crimsonwing is one of the African sought after birds. It belongs to estrildid finch species and can be found in most Sub-Saharan countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Recent research shows that the population of these birds has been reducing all the time, mainly because of human activities that occur within their habitats.
Shelley’s Crimsonwing can be easily identified by its bright color plumage and a white colored bill. Its length is about 13cm long. The males are differentiated from females by a red colored face, crown and back, while its wings and tail are black and its lower parts are olive-yellow with dark tones on the belly. The female has an olive head with a bit of red on its mantle and the rest of the body.
Shelley’s Crimsonwing inhabits areas of moist forests in the lower valleys near water bodies. Also, they can live at the edge of secondary growth forests and small natural forests which are dominated by bamboo vegetation. They are usually spotted in the branches of trees feeding on fruits and seeds.
Some of the east African national parks where you can easily locate Shelley’s Crimsonwing include Virunga and Kahuzi-biega national parks in DR Congo, Nyungwe forest national park of Rwanda, Bururi Nature Reserve in Burundi, Rwenzori mountain national Park and Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Therefore, for any safari to East Africa, you can easily spot Shelley’s Crimsonwing in Uganda.
Shelley’s Crimsonwing in Uganda.
In Uganda, Bwindi national Park is a prime home of Shelley’s Crimsonwing species and one can then engage in birding or gorilla trekking in Bwindi to have a chance of spotting these birds. Bwindi is one of the most interesting national parks, located in southwestern Uganda and for best sightings of Shelley’s Crimsonwing, visit Ruhija sector.
Feeding habits.
Shelley’s Crimsonwings normally feed on insects, fruits and seeds. Water is one of its best because of the nature of food it consumes and that’s why their nests are built near water bodies and swampy valleys. Research says that their population ranges between 2000 and 10000 birds that currently live in the wild. Shelley’s Crimsonwing in Uganda can be best spotted during dry seasons, usually from June to September.
Other birds that can be spotted alongside Shelley’s Crimsonwings include dusky twin spot, African dusky flycatcher, African green broadbill, yellow whiskered greenbul, white-tailed blue catcher, malachite Tufted sunbirds among others. This means that it is a social bird that lives with other birds.
Breeding.
Breeding of Shelley’s Crimsonwing normally takes place after mating and the female lays 2 to 3 eggs that hatch after a month. Parents take care of young ones by providing protection and feeding until chicks get old. They use different nests in breeding and this makes Shelley’s Crimsonwings quite unique.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has conducted research to investigate different factors causing rapid reduction in the population of Shelley’s Crimsonwing species and measures to mitigate the causes. Researchers in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi noticed that Shelley’s Crimsonwing can spend over 3 minutes on ground feeding before it flies off.
Therefore one can enjoy spotting this bird on a safari to Uganda. Either during a gorilla trekking tour or birding safari in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable national park or on a nature walk along the foothills of Rwenzori ranges.
