Vicinity Edeni Lodge, Trichardtsdal, Limpopo Province, South Africa July 19, 2007. Although this species is said to be common in dry thornveld, we did not expect it in this area and we only saw it twice. It is confined to Southern Africa where it is a "near-endemic." In the past, this unique bird was sometimes placed in the subfamily Sporopipinae within the Weavers (Family Ploceidae). However, modern authors (e.g. Howard & Moore) include it in the Ploceinae subfamily. The English nomenclature has been confused of late. Howard & Moore give it the English name "Scaly-fronted Weaver" while Clements calls it the Scaly Weaver. Here I follow the names used in the 2005 edition of the SASOL guide which retains "Scaly-feathered Finch." The English names of this bird are derived from the scaly pattern to the feathers on the forehead. However, the rather severe handle-bar moustache is a much more obvious field-mark. Sexes are alike. Two subspecies (nominate squamifrons and fuligescens) are recognized by Howard & Moore. However Clements synonomizes them, but recognizes a third race, S. s. pallidus confined to part of Angola. Following Clements, our bird is nominate S. s. squamifrons. Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FS 3 / 30XWA / hand-held, no adapter.