Description
The lesser seedcracker grows to a length of about . The male plumage is brown tinged with olive, apart from the forehead, crown, side of face, chin, throat and upper breast which are bright red, and the rump and central tail feathers which are deep blood red. The underparts are paler than the upper parts. The female is similar but has a smaller area of red on the face and crown. The short, broad beak is black, the brown eye is surrounded by a white eye ring, and the legs are greyish-brown or dark grey. The juvenile is similar to the adults but the colours are more muted. This species could be confused with theDistribution and habitat
This is a resident but somewhat uncommon species and occurs in southern Tanzania, eastern Zimbabwe, southern Malawi and northern Mozambique. It is found in upland forests, at altitudes of between , both in high rainfall areas and in forest margins in drier areas, in '' Brachystegia'' woodland, clearings, scrubby areas and areas of rank vegetation, often near watercourses.Behaviour
The lesser seedcracker is a mostly resident species, but is a partial migrant in eastern Zimbabwe. It usually forages in pairs low in the undergrowth, or sometimes on the ground, feeding on grass and other seeds, including rice and the large hard seeds of the bamboo '' Olyra latifolia''. Breeding takes place between December and March in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and between March and May in Mozambique.Status
The lesser seedcracker has a very wide range. It faces no particular threats and the population is stable, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of " least concern".References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q930270 lesser seedcracker Birds of East Africa lesser seedcracker Birds of Southern Africa lesser seedcracker