Red-backed Mannikin

Afrikaans name: Rooirugfret

Red-backed Mannikins are fairly common garden birds in some areas

Photo © Steven Herbert

Lonchura nigriceps

The Red-backed Mannikin is found over most of the southern half of Africa. It is an attractive bird with much broghter colouring than the Bronze Mannikin.

It is sometimes referred to as the Brown-backed Mannikin or Brown-backed Munia.

This little finch is mainly a seed eater but it will take small insects at times.

Red-backed Mannikins are normally seen in small flocks and they often mix with Bronze Mannikins. When seen together the Red-backed Mannikin is easily identified from the drabber Bronze Mannikin.

They make a ball-like nest in a tree. The nest is normally made from grass or lichen. They lay up to 7 eggs.

In South Africa the Red-backed Mannikin is mainly found along the KwaZulu-Natal coast as well as a bit of Mpumalanga.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	824	Lepidopygia nigriceps nigriceps
2nd	824	Lonchura bicolor
3rd	824	Lonchura bicolor
4th	824	Lonchura bicolor
5th	858	Spermestes bicolor
6th	858	Spermestes bicolor
7th	890	Spermestes nigriceps

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	824	Red-backed Mannikin
2nd	824	Red-backed Mannikin
3rd	824	Red-backed Mannikin
4th	824	Red-backed Mannikin
5th	858	Redbacked Mannikin
6th	858	Redbacked Mannikin
7th	890	Red-backed Mannikin

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	824	Rooirug-fret
2nd	824	Rooirug-fret
3rd	824	Rooirug-fret
4th	824	Rooirug-fret
5th	858	Rooirugfret
6th	858	Rooirugfret
7th	890	Rooirugfret

References and further reading

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 131

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 353

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 430

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 764

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 398

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 584

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 765

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 573

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 445

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 334

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 430

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 430

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 222

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 318

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 81

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 270

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 280

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 118

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 220

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 320

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 29

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 29

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds