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[[Image:Pink-neckedTwinspots.JPG]]

'''Common Name:''' Pink-throated Twinspot<br>
'''Scientific Name:''' Hypargos margaritatus

'''Size:''' 4.7-6.7 inches (12-17cm) 

'''Habitat:''' Africa; southeast African coast in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.

It generally prefers dry, thick scrub, woodland with dense and tangled undergrowth, thickets, palm savanna and edges of forest.

'''Status:''' Least Concern to Near Threatened. '''Global Population:''' Unknown amount of mature individuals. While not threatened globally, the Twinspot is Near-threatened in South Africa and Swaziland, due to its small distribution range. Both habitat destruction and the cage-bird trade (an estimated 2000 birds are thought to be exported from Mozambique every year) are leading factors in its decline.

'''Diet:''' Seeds and insects.

'''Breeding:''' Both adults have distinctive white spots below the wings and chest. Males have pinkish throats, face and breasts with brown crowns. Females have grey-brown throats, breasts and bellies. Juveniles are brown above and pale grey below with no spots.

The nest is an untidy ball with a side entrance, made of dry grass or leaf ribs, skeletonized leaves, inflorescences and spider webs, that is lined with palm fibers and leaf litter. It is typically concealed in dense vegetation and leaf litter, less than one meter above ground. Only one clutch of three eggs has been recorded, laid in January, although it can lay up to four eggs in captivity.

'''Cool Facts''': In Afrikaans, they are called “Rooskeelkolpensie”.  The much rarer Pink-throated Twinspot is often mistaken for the Red-throated Twinspot (which has a crimson red marking in the male of the species).



'''Found in [http://hivewire3d.com/songbird-remix-cool-and-unusual-3.html Songbird ReMix Cool 'n' Unusual Birds 3]'''