Serinus canicollis

We first recorded this cheerful canary in August 2010 while staying at Elands Valley game farm in Dullstroom. Besides being brought delicious scones every morning, the birding at the farm was really good and we managed to pick up a number of new species, including blackwinged lapwing and wailing cisticola.

Since then we have seen this common species on many an ooccasion, most regularly while walking the beach paths around our parent’s home in Llandudno, Cape Town. It is easily told from other similar species by its blue-grey mantle, nape and hind-crown.