Spermophaga haematina
Western Bluebill
A stout-billed, boldly patterned estrildid finch of forest understory and overgrown edge habitat near water, native to the Guineo-Congolian region and west to Gambia/Senegal. The subspecies found in The Gambia ranges from Gambia and southern Senegal east to Ghana.
Identification
Males are the only bluebill/seedcracker with an all-black head, paired with a bright red breast/underparts, black back, and a blue-grey bill. Females instead show a red face with a black belly marked in white spots.
Want to see the Western Bluebill?
Join Yaya on a trip to one of the sites below, or ask about an itinerary built around it — he'll help you plan the best way to find it in the field.
Where to find it
Western Region, near Lamin/Abuko, south of Serekunda on the Banjul–Brikama highway
Abuko is The Gambia's oldest protected wildlife area, a small but botanically rich pocket of gallery forest along the Lamin Stream, easily reached from the coastal resorts. It's one of the country's most reliable sites for forest-dependent species, with an easy circular trail and hides making close encounters straightforward even on a short visit.
Tours that target this bird
A comprehensive birding, wildlife and nature tour combining the finest habitats of The Gambia with Northern Senegal's Saloum Delta — coastal wetlands, mangroves, woodland, rice fields, savannah and riverine forest, plus a boat excursion to the Scissor-tailed Kite colony at Kousmar.
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