- Fody
Taxobox
name = Fodies
image_caption = MaleRed Fody in breeding plumage.
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Ploceidae
genus = "Foudia"
genus_authority = Reichenbach, 1850
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "F. madagascariensis"
"F. eminentissima"
"F. omissa"
"F. rubra"
"F. sechellarum"
"F. flavicans"Fodies are small
passerine bird s belonging to thegenus "Foudia" in the weaver family Ploceidae. They are native to the islands of the westernIndian Ocean where they occur onMadagascar , theSeychelles , theComoro Islands and theMascarene Islands . TheRed Fody has also been introduced to theChagos Archipelago ,Bahrain andSaint Helena . While the Red Fody is one of the commonest birds of the region, several of the other fodies are considered to be threatened, particularly theMauritius Fody which is classed ascritically endangered .The birds are 12 to 15 centimetres long and have short, conical bills. Males in breeding
plumage are usually colourful with bright red or yellow on the head and sometimes elsewhere. Non-breeding males and females are dull,sparrow -like birds with mostly grey-brown plumage.Fodies are typically found in
forest ,woodland orscrubland but some also occur in man-made habitats, especially the Red Fody. Some species feed mainly onseed s while others are largelyinsect ivorous. Fodies build a dome-shapednest ofgrass and other plant material. It has a side-opening and it is suspended from a branch or palm leaf.pecies list
Six species are generally recognized but some authors consider the Aldabra Fody to be a separate species from the Red-headed Fody.
*Red Fody or Madagascar Fody, "Foudia madagascariensis"
*Red-headed Fody or Comoro Fody, "Foudia eminentissima"
**Aldabra Fody , "Foudia (eminentissima) aldabrana"
*Forest Fody , "Foudia omissa"
*Mauritius Fody , "Foudia rubra"
*Seychelles Fody , "Foudia sechellarum"
*Rodrigues Fody , "Foudia flavicans"References
* Sinclair, Ian & Langrand, Olivier (1998) "Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands", Struik, Cape Town.
* Skerrett, Adrian; Bullock, Ian & Disley, Tony (2001) "Birds of Seychelles", Christopher Helm, London.
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