AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

456. Fringilla teydea

456. TEYDEAN CHAFFINCH.
FRINGILLA TEYDEA.
Fringilla teyden, Webb and Berth. Orn. Canar. p. 20, pl. 1, figs. 1, 2 (1836-44) ; Dresser, iv. p. 25, pl. 185 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 170.
Male ad. (Teneriffe). Entire upper parts rich dark blue, the forehead and lores washed with black ; wings and tail black, margined with slate-blue ; under parts much paler than the upper parts, on the abdomen fading to bluish white ; under tail-coverts white ; bill horn-blue, whitish at the base below ; legs pale horn ; iris brown. Culmen 0.65, wing 3.9, tail 3.3, tarsus 0.9 inch. The female has the tipper parts dark greyish brown, the wings and tail dark brown, edged with dull light brown, the under parts dull light brown, washed with slate, the abdomen and under tail-coverts dirty white, the latter washed with buff.
Hab. The peak of Teneriffe at an altitude of 7,000 to 8,000 feet.
It is found only in the upper portions of the peak in the pine-woods and where the pine-woods cease and the brush-covered plateau commences, where it feeds on the seeds of the pines, and it is more frequently found on the southern side of the peak. Its food consists almost entirely of the seeds of the pine (Pinus canariensis) and to a small extent only of insects. It is said to be very tame, especially when seeking its food on the ground, and can then be approached quite close. Its song is described by Dr. Koenig as tschin-tin-tini-vi-vi-vi-vi-vi and not so melodious as that of the Tintillon. Water is a necessity to this bird and it is always found within reach of it. Nidifica¬tion commences in June and July, and the nest, which is placed in a pine-tree, is constructed of plant-stems, pine-spines, plant-down, and spiders’ webs, and well lined with feathers. The eggs, 2 in number, are pale sea-green with pale purplish shell-blotches and dark blackish brown surface-spots collected chiefly at the larger end, and measure 0.96 by 0.68.

BookTitle: 
A Manual Of Palaearctic Birds
Reference: 
Dresser, Henry Eeles. A Manual of Palaearctic Birds. Vol. 1. 1902.
Title in Book: 
456. Fringilla teydea
Book Author: 
H. E. Dresser
CatNo: 
456
Year: 
1902
Page No: 
310
Common name: 
Teydean Chaffinch
M_ID: 
30544
M_CN: 
Blue Chaffinch
M_SN: 
Fringilla teydea
Volume: 
Vol. 1
id: 
11029

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