Factual Description
Common Name:- Red Avadavat or Red Munia
Scientific Name:- Amandava amandava
Other common names:- Waxbill, Tiger Finch, Amaduvade, Strawberry Finch, Avadavat.
Description
The Red Avadavat, Red Munia or Strawberry Finch (Amandava amandava) is a sparrow-sized bird of the Estriididae family. It is found in the open fields and grasslands of tropical Asia and is popular as a cage bird due to the colourful plumage of the males in their breeding season. It breeds in the Indian Subcontinent in the Monsoon season. The species name of amandava and the common name of avadavat are derived from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat from where these birds were exported into the pet trade in former times. Both sexes have random white spots throughout there plumage, bright red beaks, flesh coloured legs and the eyes are black enriched by red-brown. This small finch is easily identified by the rounded black tail and the bill that is seasonally red. The rump is red and the breeding male is red on most of the upper parts except for a black eye-stripe, lower belly and wings. There are white spots on the red body and wing feathers. The non-breeding male is duller but has the red-rump while the female is duller with less of the white spotting on the feathers.
Distribution
Their natural range stretches from the Indus valley of Pakistan to the plains of the Brahmaputra extending south to the peninsula of India. The species has four named populations. The nominate subspecies is found in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan; the Burmese form has been called flavidiventris (also found in parts of China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam); the population further east in java is called punicea and in Cambodia decouxi.
Evolution and systematics
The Red Avadavat were earlier included in the genus Estriida by Jean Delacour. This placement was followed for a while but morphological, behavioural, biochemical and DNA studies now support their separation in the genus Amandava. The Estriidinae are thought to have evolved somewhere in the Indian plate and moving into the African and Pacific regions and it has been estimated that the Red Munia diverged from the Green Munia about nine million years ago.
Shape, Size & Morphology
Red Avadavats are about 10.16 cms in length (3-4 inches). Average wingspan is around 49mm. Males and females molt into breeding plumage each year. Duing the breeding season males have a deep red crown and back, and there are white streaks under the eyes. The sides of the head, down the breast and the undersides are scarlet. The wings, tail overfeathers, and flanks are dark red with white spots. The tail feathers are black. The beaks of the males are red. When females go into the breeding season they often molt and the chest and underbelly become a brighter yellow-orange.
At the end of the breeding season, males begin to molt to a plumage that resembles the coloration of females. The color of the underbelly ranges from a creamy tan to creamy yellow, and there are black streaks under the eyes. The crown, back, wings and tail are dark brown with fewer white spots than male in breeding season. Juveniles of this species are dull grayish brown all over. This is the first molt from the nesting stage. Nestlings are marked by dark skin and down, and have markings around the mouth.
Habitat
Red avadavats are found in grassy areas, such as jungle clearings, gardens, and meadows. They also frequent sugarcane fields and areas near bodies of water, such as marshes. Red avadavats are accustomed to tropical temperatures and will lose plumage intensity in cooler, dryer environments. Habitat regions: tropical; terrestrial.
Diet
Red avadavats feed on a variety of food sources. They are known mainly as ground feeders. But these are omnivorous , feeds on insects too. When feeding young, they prefer and larvae and pupae, centipedes and caterpillars. Plant diet includes seeds, grains, and nuts.
Breeding
Red avadavats breed once a year. Breeding can occur from january to April, varying regionally. Lays 4 to 6 eggs per season. Average time to hatching is 11 days. Average fledging age is 20 days.
Male red avadavats use their bright red plumage in addition to a mating dance to attract females. The dance begins with males, a grass stem or feather in their mouth, deeply bowing with feathers erect. Usually the birds sing and hop between bows. Both males and females display. When the birds have paired, they separate from the larger group to built a nest. Red avadavats are monogamous within a breeding season, but no information could be found on potential life long monogamy.
Breeding months vary regionally. Males begin molting into their bright plumage as the breeding season begins. Out of the breeding season, males often do not entirely lose their red plumage before beginning molting for the breeding season. In the wild (in parts of Asia), red avadavats breed during the second half of the monsoon season and during the following dry season.
Assam: June-August
Northern India: July-October
Southern India: October-March
Myanmar (Burma): August-January
Flores: April-June
Behaviour and Ecology
Red avadavats are gregarious in nature, usually in small flcoks, flying with rapid wingbeats and descending into grass clumps where they are hard to observe. Pairs stay together during the breeding season. These birds produce a distinctive low single note pseep call that is often given in flight. The song is a series of low notes. Birds of a flock will preen each other, ruffing their head feathers in invitation. They feed mainly on grass seeds but will also take insects such as termites when they are available. They built a gobular nest made of grass blades. The usual clutch is about 5 or 6 white eggs. The beak begins to turn red in May and darkens during November and December. The beak then turns rapidly to black in April and the cycle continues. These seasonal cycles are linked to seasonal changes in daylength.
Call
Makes "pseep" calls oftenly during the flight.
Ecosystem roles
Because red avadavats feed on seeds and small insects, they likely have a role in seed dispersal as well as pest control. They are also prey for larger predators. There is little additional information on the roles red avadavats have on the ecosystem. Ecosystem impact: disperse seeds.
Predation
To protect against predation, red avadavats stay in large groups, especially during the non-breeding season. Also, when they are alarmed, they move their tails from side to side and at a down angle. During the non-breeding season, brightly coloured males lose their plumage and become brown, much like the females. This brown plumage may serve as camouflage during the dry season. Both breeding and non-breeding birds use a shrill call if they perceive danger, warning other group members. There is little information on predators of red avadavats.
References:-
1. http://eol.org/pages/1053068/details
2. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=8663
3. http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/species/red_avadavat.php
4. http://beautyofbirds.com/strawberryfinches.html
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