The crimson seedcracker is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 834,000 km2 (322,000 sq mi). It is found in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the species as being of least concern.
Region
West Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from Senegal and The Gambia east through Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, southern Mali and Burkina Faso. It favors moist savannas, tall grasslands with sedges, rice fields, forest edges and gallery woodland margins. Birds often stay low and concealed, moving through rank grass near watercourses and marshy patches. It adapts to lightly cultivated areas where seed-rich weeds persist. Local movements track seeding grasses but long-distance migrations are not typical.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
A robust estrildid finch of West Africa, the crimson seedcracker is named for the vivid red plumage on its face and underparts and for its exceptionally thick bill. That powerful bill lets it crack very hard grass and sedge seeds that many other finches cannot handle. It keeps to tall grasses, farm edges and wetland margins, and is generally non-migratory. The species is assessed as Least Concern and can be locally common where suitable seed-bearing plants are abundant.
Temperament
generally shy, staying low in dense cover
Flight Pattern
short, undulating flights with rapid wingbeats, usually low over grass
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes loosely associating with other estrildid finches at feeding sites. Nests are placed low in dense grass or shrubs, typically dome-shaped and woven from fine grasses. Both adults participate in nesting duties and care for the young. Territoriality is modest, focused around nest sites and rich feeding patches.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a soft, twittering series of trills and tinkling notes delivered from within cover. Calls include thin, high chips and short buzzy contact notes used to keep pairs together.
Plumage
Compact finch with smooth, close-fitting plumage; males show extensive crimson on the face, throat, breast and rump with warm brown upperparts and darker wings and tail. Females are browner overall with a more restricted crimson wash, especially on the rump and throat, and a paler belly. Both sexes have a very thick, conical bill.
Diet
Specializes on hard seeds of grasses and sedges, notably Scleria and other tough-seeded plants. The oversized bill allows it to crack thick seed coats efficiently. It also takes softer grass seeds when available and may visit rice fields and fallows rich in seeding weeds. Seasonal availability of seed heads strongly influences local movements.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mostly on or near the ground in tall, rank grasses, sedge beds, and along wetland margins. Frequently uses field edges, fallow plots and secondary growth where seed heads are abundant. Will venture to paths and clearings to pick fallen seeds.
