Common Waxbill
Estrilda astrild
DescriptionThe Common Waxbill is an absolutely beautiful finch. This small bird is typically found in large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands. The Common Waxbill feeds on grass seeds, fruit flies, and small worms. Also known as the St. Helena Waxbill. St. Helena is a small island in the southern Atlantic ocean.
Gray-brown upperparts, lower breast, and belly. Fine barring on back, wings, sides, lower breast, belly, and tail. White cheeks, throat, and upper breast. Rosy-pink patch on belly. Bright red mask surrounds eye. Reddish-orange bill. Black undertail coverts. Black legs and feet. Sexes similar. Immature bird is similar to adult, but is duller, has brown undertail coverts, and sometimes lacks red eye mask. 4 inches in length.
Open grassland, farmland, cultivated fields, marshes, and grassy clearings in forests. Native to tropical and southern Africa.
Nesting4-5 white eggs. The eggs have a 13 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in 20 days. The nest is a small globe of woven grass. It is built in a stand of grass or a short, dense shrub.
View Gallery