French: Bruant de Cabanis German: Cabanisammer Spanish: Escribano de Cabanis
Polymitra (Fringillaria) cabanisi
Subspecies and Distribution
E. c. cabanisi
(Reichenow, 1875) – Cabanis's Bunting – W Africa locally from Guinea and Sierra Leone E to Cameroon, N DRCongo, S South Sudan and NW Uganda.
E. c. cognominata
(Grote, 1931) – C Africa from S Gabon, Congo and Angola E to W Zambia and W & C Zimbabwe.
E. c. orientalis
(Shelley, 1882) – Three-streaked Bunting – Tanzania S to E Zambia, Malawi, E Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
16–17 cm; 18–27 g. A fairly large bunting with mostly dark head. Male nominate race has dark crown (little evidence of paler median stripe), white supercilium,... read more
Male song varied, typically a repeated series of sweet, clear whistles, often reminiscent of that... read more
Broadleaf woodland and well-wooded savanna, including guinean savanna in W Africa and miombo (... read more
Food and feeding
Diet mainly insects, especially small grasshoppers (Orthoptera), and grass seeds; also other insects, including beetle larvae (Coleoptera... read more
Season Jul–Aug in W Africa and Sept–Mar (mainly Oct–Nov) in SC Africa. Monogamous. Solitary nester. Nest constructed by female, male... read more
Largely resident, subject to local movements in relation to drought. Listed as a summer visitor (... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Scarce or uncommon through much of its range; locally common in some areas.
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