Green-winged Pytilia
Pytilia melba
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusPytilia (Pytilias)
- SpeciesPytilia melba (Green-winged Pytilia)
About the Green-winged Pytilia
The green-winged pytilia (Pytilia melba) is a small colourful seed-eating bird in the family Estrildidae. It is widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, though it is more rarely seen in central, far southern and coastal western parts of the continent.
The green-winged pytilia was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Fringilla melba. No explanation was provided for the specific epithet melba but it could possibly be from a supposed Chinese word or place. Linnaeus based his description on "The Green Gold-Finch" that had been described and illustrated in 1750 by the English naturalist George Edwards in his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards was uncertain of the origin of his specimen and Linnaeus mistakenly specified the locality as China. The specimen was subsequently assumed to be from Angola, but this was restricted to Luanda in Angola by Phillip Clancey in 1962.
The green-winged pytilia is now placed in the genus Pytilia that was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William Swainson for the red-winged pytilia. Eight subspecies are recognised: P. m.... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Green-winged Pytilia in Tsavo East National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
Cut-throat
Amadina fasciata
Bronze Mannikin
Lonchura cucullata
Blue-capped Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Red-billed Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
Estrilda rhodopyga
Purple Grenadier
Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Black-and-white Mannikin
Lonchura bicolor
African Silverbill
Euodice cantans
Yellow-bellied Waxbill
Coccopygia quartinia
Peters's Twinspot
Hypargos niveoguttatus
Black-cheeked Waxbill
Estrilda charmosyna
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Green-winged Pytilia in Tsavo East National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Green-winged Pytilia sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 372 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Green-winged Pytilia in Tsavo East National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Green-winged Pytilia in Tsavo East National Park in our monthly data.