Introducing the Green-Backed TwinSpot, a charming and colorful bird that boasts emerald green feathers and striking red eye patches on its head. Its perfectly patterned belly is also adorned with playful polka dots.
The Mandingoa nitidula, also known as the green twinspot or green-backed twinspot, is a tiny estrildid finch that can be spotted in various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It boasts a charming appearance, with its chunky build and dark green feathers adorned with twin white spots on its black belly. The male of the species sports a red patch on his face and beak tip, adding to its allure.
The male and female green-backed twinspots share many similarities, but one notable difference is the color of their face patches. While males have red patches, females boast yellow ones. Juvenile twinspots do not possess the same face coloration or the distinct flecks found on adult birds. These small birds can be found in lowland moist forests in tropical areas, as well as grasslands, shrublands, arable land, and even exotic tree plantations.
The primary source of sustenance for these winged creatures is grass seeds such as basket grass, ribbon bristle grass, and forest wood grass. Occasionally, they will also consume stinging nettle and small insects like aphids for added nutrition.
South African birds typically mate for life and breed from December to April. During this time, the monogamous couples build their nests together using materials such as grass stems, skeletonized leaves, rootlets, twigs, and lichen. The interior of the nest is lined with soft materials like feathers and fine grass, and it’s usually concealed in the tree canopy. Once the nest is complete, the female will lay 4-6 eggs which both parents incubate for around 12-14 days. After hatching, the parents both take on the feeding responsibilities until the young become fledged after approximately 17 days.
Although this particular species has a vast area for breeding, it has not been easy to assess its population size due to observation limitations. Nonetheless, experts believe that the species is not presently endangered.
