Pytilia melba
The Green-winged Pytilia is a beautiful little finch occurring in all South Africa’s provinces with the exception of the Eastern and Western Cape. It has a wide, if patchy, distribution over much of sub-Saharan Africa and is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN, with its range reflecting the species’ preference for dry and thorny savannas with ready access to a reliable water source. They forage on open ground for the grass seeds that make up the bulk of their diet, occasionally also pecking at termites.
Green-winged Pytilias are monogamous and territorial, and breed throughout the year, though there’s a distinct peak in the summer and early autumn. Their untidy grass-nests are built in the shape of a ball (with a side entrance) in thorny shrubs and trees. Both parents take it in turns to incubate the clutch of up to 6 eggs over a two week period. The chicks grow quickly and leave the nest before they’re 3 weeks old.
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Lovely contrasting colors on that bird!
It does make for a very pretty little bird, Siobhan
An exquisite little bird. I know it better as the Melba Finch (I had to look up the “new” name).
So sorry to read that a relative of yours has Covid – I do hope that the symptoms remain mild and all will be okay. Keep safe.
Thank you very much, Carol. Your kind words means a lot to us.
A very pretty bird, Dries. I’ve never seen this one before. South Africa has some amazing wildlife and your blogs are great at showing me all the creatures I’ve missed. 🙂
Next time you come to visit they’ll be waiting for you!
I’m looking forward to that day. 😃
Pragtige voëltjies en jou foto’s is net so mooi!
Baie dankie, Dina, en regtig lekker om jou weer hier te sien!
Dankie Dries. Ek hoop dit gaan goed met julle.
Op die oomblik kan dit beter gaan. En met julle?
Covid in die familie gehad, maar hulle is darem beter. Net baie angsvol gewees. Sterkte met wat ookal daar by jou nie lekker is nie.
Presies dieselfde, Dina. Baie dankie. Bly om te hoor dit gaan beter met jou familielede.
Ai Dries, net jy of julle aldrie? Was twee van my kinders met jong baba. Gelukkig is baba nie aangetas nie.
Gelukkig nie in ons huis nie Dina, maar n baie naby en geliefde familielid en ek verstaan daarom heeltemal hoe bekommerd jy sou wees oor jou kinders en kleinkind. En wonderlik om te hoor dat baba nie geraak is nie!
Dankie Dries, sterkte vir julle ook in hierdie onseker tyd. Ons gaan môre bietjie Rietvlei toe. Ek gaan nie foto’s neem nie. Net geniet.
Ek hoop jul het n heerlike tyd, Dina. Jammer dat mens nie huidiglik die skuilings en piekniekplek mag gebruik by Rietvlei nie maar nogtans wonderlik om hier, amper op mens se voorstoep, die natuur so te kan geniet. Ek hoop regtig julle het n fantastiese tyd, klink of julle dit dubbel-en-dwars verdien.
What a charming looking bird! Beautiful colors and such an open and friendly look on his face. ☺️
You’ve summed it up beautifully!
These beautiful finches look particularly cheeky, Dries.
I look forward to your posts for more reasons than one.
Thank you so much, Tracy! That means more than you could know.
The situation sounds like it is getting more dire there by the day, Dries. There hasn’t been a post from Helen in the Western Cape since mid June, and she would better placed than many to ride this out.
Yes, Tracy, I am afraid things seem to be going from bad to worse at pace as far as the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa is concerned. I know that the media thrives on selling the bad news, but this virus is striking very close to home now without having to pick up a newspaper. I am also worried about so many of our blog-friends who haven’t been around to visit lately.
That is not good news, Dries. My thoughts are with you.
Thank you very much Tracy. Please keep safe.
What a delight to see these birds through your eyes!
Thank you, Anne! I’m always happy to find a pair of these tiny beauties willing to pose!
What a gorgeous and colourful little bird! I shall be looking out for them on the mountain! I am trying to get to know our bird life a little better – Thank you for your informative posts and lovely pics.
We really enjoy sharing our treasures with our fellow nature lovers and really appreciate your kind comment, Carol! I think the area around Dundee might not be much to this Pytilia’s liking, but if you take an excursion east of Vryheid and Pongola into Zululand your chances will get much better!
That is why I have not seen it!
really beautiful.
You won’t hear any arguments from us on that, Gavin. Thank you!
Hello Dries,
As always it’s a pleasure to be introduced to wildlife in Africa through your beautiful posts. This bird (both male and female) is so pretty. I hope you and your family are continuing to stay safe.
Thank you very much for your kind and encouraging words, Takami.
Unfortunately COVID-19 is wreaking havoc here in South Africa, as you’ve probably seen in the news, and a very dear family member of ours has recently tested positive though presently still feeling in good shape, and we pray earnestly that it remains so.
I hope the news is better at your end of the line?
Thank you so much for your reply Dries.
First of all, I am so sorry to hear about your family member. Hubby and I also keep them in our thoughts. It is a stressful situation as it is, and when it affects those close to us, it becomes even more so.
Unfortunately, things are not so much better here. We are having a surge in new confirmed cases, and there is much tension and uncertainty. We too, will try to take it day by day, while doing our best to remain diligent and responsible.
Please do try and continue to take care.
Thank you very much for your friendship and caring, Takami. Scary times we’re living in and we will certainly and earnestly be thinking of and praying for you and your family too. It seems no country has this thing entirely under control. We’ll keep trying to do everything we can to keep safe and trust God to help where we fall short. Wishing you, your husband and all your loved ones everything of the best.
My first time to see this bird. Colorful and good looking. Thank you for the post, D. 🙂
Glad we could introduce you to another of our birds, H.J, and I hope one day you’ll be able to come see them all for yourself!
What a beautiful bird. Such lovely colors.
They are very beautiful indeed, Anne
Birds are so special–well, most birds except the shrike.
Indeed, Beth, and even the shrikes have their special purpose (even if that means we have to look the other way!)
Such a pretty bird–especially the male.
I wish you could see them in real life, Lois. These pictures don’t do them any justice.