Comoro Fody

Foudia eminentissima - Foudi des Comores

Foudi des Comores
♂ subadult
Systematics
  • Order 
    :

    Passeriformes

  • Family
    :

    Plocéidés

  • Genus
    :

    Foudia

  • Species
    :

    eminentissima

Descriptor

Bonaparte, 1850

Biometrics
  • Size
    : 13 cm
  • Wingspan
    : -
  • Weight
    : 22 à 27 g
Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

Foudi des Comores
♂ adult plum. breeding
Foudi des Comores
♀ adult

The Comoros Fody has a strong sexual dimorphism. In its nuptial plumage the male can be mistaken for other fodies in the Indian Ocean. It differs by having a restricted red colour on its head and chest. The lores, however, remain black. The belly is gray. The back and coverts are brown-black with large black streaks. The rectrices are also brown-black and the rump is uniform. The black and conical beak is stronger than that of the red fody. The iris is brown. The tarses and toes are pink.
The back of the female is identical to that of the male. The crown, nape and back are striped. The rump, the same colour as the back, is uniform like that of the male. The forehead is light with a slight eyebrow. The coverts have light brown streaks. The throat and breast are yellowish gray going towards a light gray on the flanks. The beak and tarses are pink-gray.
Males in eclipse and juveniles resemble females. At this stage, only bill and song can tell them apart from other fodies.

Subspecific information 4 subspecies

  • Foudia eminentissima eminentissima (Mohéli)
  • Foudia eminentissima consobrina ()
  • Foudia eminentissima anjuanensis (Anjouan)
  • Foudia eminentissima algondae (Mayotte)

Foreign names

  • Foudi des Comores,
  • Fodi cabecirrojo,
  • foudia-das-comores,
  • Komorenweber,
  • vörösfejű fodi,
  • Comorenwever,
  • Fody testarossa,
  • komorfody,
  • Komorvever,
  • fodia komorská,
  • snovatec maskarenský,
  • Comorervæver,
  • maskareenienkutoja,
  • fodi de les illes Comores,
  • wikłacz komorski,
  • Красноголовый фуди,
  • シロハラベニノジコ,
  • 马岛红头织雀,
  • 紅頭福迪雀,

Voice song and cries

The call of the Comoros Fody consists of three identical, high-pitched vocalises easily recognizable: Tiiiu tiiiu tiiiu.

Habitat

The Comoros Fody can be found in forests except for those of Mayotte. However, it is very well adapted to bushy areas. Being a low altitude bird, it loves coastal, dry and bushy areas. There is no doubt that it can be encountered in mangroves and on beach edges, but only occasionally. It is also found in cultivated areas.

Behaviour character trait

The Comoros Fody lives in small numbers. Colonies rarely exceed ten individuals.

Dietfeeding habits

Foudi des Comores
♂ adult plum. breeding

The Comoros Fody feeds on seeds, cereals, and insects.

Reproduction nesting

Foudi des Comores
♂ adult plum. breeding

The Comoros Fody nests near the ground in a ball of dry grass. It enters through a small lateral tunnel. Its nesting is still poorly known today. An egg clutched was noted in an orange tree in M'bouini (Mayotte) with two eggs.

Geographic range

The Comoros Fody is present on the four islands of the Comoros, where it is endemic. Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mohéli and the French department of Mayotte. Each island has its own endemic species, which seems to come from the sole Malagasy strain of the forest Fody.

Threats - protection

IUCN conservation status
Extinct
Threatened
Least
concern
Extinc
in the Wild
Near
threatened
Not
evaluated
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The Comoros Fody does not seem to be subject to any threat. Its population is stable.

Sources of information

Other sources of interest

QRcode Foudi des ComoresSpecification sheet created on 26/07/2023 by
Translation by AI Oiseaux.net
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