Western Citril Crithagra frontalis Scientific name definitions

11–12 cm; 12–13 g. Small finch with conical pointed bill and slightly notched tail. Adult male usually has narrow black frontal band bordered above by broad yellow superciliary that reaches forehead and extends behind eye, yellowish olive-green upperparts , becoming yellower on rump area, and narrowly streaked blackish over crown to mantle and scapulars, blackish-brown tail feathers edged yellow on outer webs, and on both webs of outermost pair; flight-feathers also blackish brown, narrowly fringed greenish yellow, tertials more broadly edged, primary-coverts and alula blackish with fine yellowish-green fringes, lesser coverts yellowish green, and larger wing-coverts blackish edged greenish and tipped yellow; blackish fore-face merging into dark green ear-coverts, throat and underparts bright yellow, washed olive-green on breast-sides; underwing-coverts and axillaries greenish yellow; bill rather long and pointed, maxilla horn-brown, mandible pale yellowish flesh, eyes brown, and legs and feet pale brown or brownish flesh. Adult female has yellow forehead and supercilium, pale olive-green crown to mantle and scapulars streaked blackish brown, becoming more yellowish and unstreaked on rump area; face dark olive-green, underparts pale yellow tinged green, and lightly streaked on flanks and sometimes on breast; fringes to wing-coverts less obvious than in adult male. Juvenile has yellow forehead but otherwise olive-brown upperparts broadly streaked even darker, and olive-yellow underparts with narrow brown streaking on breast and flanks, and yellowish-buff tips and fringes to larger wing-coverts.

NE, E & SE DRCongo to Uganda, W Tanzania and NE Zambia; recently recorded, presumably resident, in SW Kenya (2 Bradley, J. E., T. Imboma, and D. V. Bradley (2015). Birds of Mount Kisingiri, Nyanza Province, including a preliminary survey of the Gwassi Hills Forest Reserve and a species new to Kenya. Scopus 35:11–38. Close ).

Diet very poorly known, but observed foraging at bracken-briar flowers, taking seeds on ground among tall grasses and patches of Bidens and Galinsoga, and pulling seeds from thistle-heads; reported to be fond of seeds of Senecio montuosum in Rwanda, and in same country to take seeds of Hagenia and perhaps small fruits of Urera. Insects and small seeds reported as stomach contents. Sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks, and typically occurs in small groups of 4–8 individuals.

Song a high-pitched jingle at moderate speed, a mixture of short sweet notes interspersed with thin “sit-sit” and frequent buzzy “zwee” calls. Contact call a “chit-chit”.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally common and widespread, but known from just one locality in Zambia (Mbala). Only recently (Jan 2011) discovered in SW Kenya, at Gwassi Hills Forest Reserve, but photographs recently made available suggest that the species is apparently more widespread in the latter country, apparently even reaching C Kenya.