Fringilla spodiogenys
A vibrant member of the finch family, the male African Chaffinch (*Fringilla spodiogenys*) is a striking bird, measuring approximately 14-16 cm in length with a wingspan of 24-29 cm and weighing 18-29 grams. His most distinctive features include a smart blue-grey crown and nape, contrasting with an olive-brown mantle and prominent double white wing bars. The cheeks are typically grey, complementing the rufous-pink breast and flanks, which fade to a whitish belly. The female is more subtly pat...
Found in Mediterranean forests, cork oak woodlands, olive groves, maquis shrubland, orchards, gardens, and parks, from sea level to high montane forests.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on seeds from grasses, weeds, and cereals, supplemented by insects (caterpillars, aphids, beetles) during the breeding season.
African Chaffinches are diurnal, actively foraging throughout the day and often roosting communally in dense vegetation. They typically hop on the ground, gleaning seeds and insects from low vegetation, and frequently forage in small, loose flocks, sometimes mixing with other finches. Males estab...
The African Chaffinch (*Fringilla spodiogenys*) is endemic to Northwest Africa, with its primary breeding and resident range extending across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, reaching eastward into Libya. It is a largely sedentary species throughout this distribution, occupying a wide variety of ha...
Least Concern
- The species name *spodiogenys* literally translates to 'ashy-cheeked,' referencing the male's distinctive grey cheeks, a key identifier for this North African species. - Its elaborate, cup-shaped nest is a marvel of avian architecture, meticulously woven with spider silk and camouflaged with mo...