Crimsonwing

They are 11–13 cm long with short wings and a short, rounded tail. The bill is thick and conical and either black or red. They all have a reddish back and rump and olive or grey underparts. Juvenile birds are duller than the adults.

Destruction and degradation of their forest habitat is a potential threat to the crimsonwings and Shelley's crimsonwing is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.

Taxonomy

The genus Cryptospiza was introduced in 1884 by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori with Pytelia reichenovii Hartlaub, the red-faced crimsonwing, as the type species. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek κρυπτος/kruptos meaning "hidden" or "obscure" with σπιζα/spiza meaning "finch".