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Canary, yellow, Serinus flaviventris

The yellow canary is a common near endemic nomad distributed throughout the arid and semi-arid parts of Southern Africa. Often congregates at watering spots. This canary's diet consists of seeds, small fruit, insects and nectar.



These birds were photographed at a waterhole near Tweerivieren, KTP. The differences between male and female are obvious.

The YC is a solitary, territorial nester and monogamous breeder. Greater dimorphism (male and female differ in colour and size) than our other canaries is probably due to the need to pair and breed rapidly to take advantage of unpredictable rainfall events. The female alone builds the cup nest and lines it with fluff. 2 - 5 eggs are incubated by the female only in about two weeks. The brood is fed by both parents.

I don't find a topic for this bright little bird, so here's my contribution, seen in KTP in September 2007:

Tankwa Karoo NP


Larger view

What about this one? Another blackthroated?



Or perhaps a female yellow canary, since a male was quite close by?



Again, seen in KTP on 20 February 2010.

Looks like an immature male yellow canary to me

Thanks, RJ, again a possibility I'd not considered

Its a pleasure

This little bird really has me stumped. I think that it must be some sort of canary, likely a female, but it doesn't resemble any of the pix in my Newman's Seen in KTP on 6 March 2010.

Hi Arks

It looks like a female Yellow Canary. The other candidate would be White throated, but that has a much heavier bill.

Cheers

Niall.

Thanks, Niall, that would make sense as there were male yellow canaries about. However, in my book (Newman's) it shows the yellow canary as having black/dark legs and this bird's legs are pink/light?

Arks- The Female and Juvenile Yellow Canaries both have pink legs.

Thanks, Batmad. My Newman's shows both the male and the female with dark/black legs. I'm wondering if whether the female yellow canary has pink or black legs depends perhaps on age? Isn't this one, with black legs, also a female yellow canary?

Yes, that is a Female Yellow Canary The white eyebrow and chin malar stripe give him away, White throated canary wouldn't have that malar stripe, and the yellow on the wings is also not present in White Throated Canary.

Thanks, Batmad. However, I'm still wondering about those legs ... it's a bit confusing if the female can have either pink or black legs Can anyone else shed some light on this?

.

Seen at Tsaarsbank, WCNP, 25 March 2010