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Estrildid finches

Order Passeriformes   Family Estrildidae


The finches of family Estrildidae are small birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. The estrilidid finches are gregarious and often seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They vary from 8-17 cm. These finches are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colors and pattern. All the estrildids build large domed or ball shaped nests and lay 5–10 white eggs. Most are sensitive to cold and require a warm, usually tropical, habitat, although a few have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia. They are not closely related to the Fringillid finches. 

African finches          Other Estrildidae finches

The typical African Estrildidae finch has a close relationship with grasses - they live near it, grass seeds are their favorite food, and grass is a major component of their nest. They even hide in it from from predators. In addition to seeds, these finches also eat insects, especially during breeding season so the young can have a high protein diet.

Of the 68 species described here, a quarter of the species are waxbills. There are four waxbill genera:  Brunhilda, Coccopygia,  Estrilda, Glaucestrilda. The genus Estrilda contains the typical waxbills. Most of the genus is found in Africa with one species, the Arabian waxbill, ranging into Asia. Some species are kept as pets and have been accidentally introduced to various parts of the world. Their nest is typically ball shaped, made out of grass stems, has a tube-like entance on the side or top. It may be placed on the ground, in a shrub, or low in a small tree. They eat mainly grass seeds, but also insects, especially during breeding season. They range length from 9 to 13 cm long, which also happens to be the distribution of lengths for the common waxbil (Estrilda astrild)l which has 15 subspecies. The common waxbill has a bright red bill. In fact waxbills are named for the red sealing-wax color of these bills.

One branch of a proposed subfamily Lagonostictinae contains the twinspots, firefinch, and pytilia for a total of 21 species. There are 6 twinspot species spread over four genera: Clytospiza, Euschistospiza , Hypargos, and Mandingoa. All have a multitude of small white does on their underparts. There all prefer to eat small seeds and also insects.  They range in length from 10 to 13 cm long. The firefinches of genus Lagonosticta are so named for their mainly red colors. They are small birds, averaging 10 cm long. The usually have some small white dots on their underparts, similar to the twinspots, but these spots are smaller and fewer. Like the other members of the Estrildidae family, they mainly eat seeds with grass seeds being their favorite. Most will also eat some small insects. Their nests are either on the ground or close to it. The pytilia of genus Pytilia have smaller than average bills than other members of the family Estrildidae. The mainly eat grass seeds and also small inscets, especially termites. Their underparts are to some extent finely barred. The nests are located a few meters off the ground.

The other branch of the Lagonostictinae subfamily contains the following genera: Granatina, Pyrenestes, Spermophagam and Uraeginthus. The 2 grenadier species of Granatina and the 3 cordonbleus of Uraeginthus all have blue as an important color and are closely related. The three bluebills and one silverbill of genus Spermophagam have large distinct bills as do the 3 seedcrackers of Pyrenestes.

There are some exceptions to these grass seed lovers. The nigrita prefer insects, but also eat seeds fairly often. As a result, their bills are not as robust as a typical African finch. The antpeckers specialize in ants, and eat seeds more infrequently than the migrita, as a result their bills are not wedge shaped.

All but two of the African Estrildidae finches have a conservtion status of Least Concern. Their robust health probably reflects their preference for small seeds which are not adversely affected by deforestation.




Common Waxbill     Image by Juan_Emilio



Waxbills and Allies
There are four waxbill genera:  Brunhilda, Coccopygia,  Estrilda, Glaucestrilda.


Genus Brunhilda

Waxbill,_Black-cheeked  Brunhilda charmosyna 
Description: The male black-cheeked waxbill has a grey head, back, throat, and breast. The face is black. It has a red belly, flanks, rump, and eyes. The bill is blue-black. The female is duller and has brown eyes. The black-cheeked waxbill is up to 12 cm long. It has a ball shaped nest, entrance at the side, made from grass stems and other plan materials.The black-checked waxbill is very similar to the black-faced waxbill. The best way to tell them apart is their range that only overlaps in Kenya.

Range: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, northeast Uganda.

Habitat: Shrubs, thickets, grasslands. Usually in dry country.

Diet: Probably seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nik_Borrow - Ethiopia  2, 3) Jerry Oldenettel - Namibia
1) Female  2, 3) Male



Waxbill,_Black-faced  Brunhilda erythronotos  Africa
Description: The similar black-cheeked is very similar to the black-faced waxbill. The best way to tell them apart is by their range that only overlaps in Kenya.

Range: Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, S Africa, Tanzania, south Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Habitat: Shrubs, thickets, grasslands. Usually in dry country.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects, nectar.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Bernard Dupont - South Africa  2) Nik_Borrow - Tanzania  2) Ron Knight  3) Derek_Keats - South Africa




Genus Coccopygia
These small seed eating birds are found across central and southern Africa. Their nearest relatives are the olivebacks of genus Nesocharis,

Waxbill_ Swee  Coccopygia melanotis 
Description: The swee waxbill has an olive back including the wings, red rump plus upper-tail covers, black tail, a grey head, pale grey breast, and buff belly. The male has a black face while the female has grey. Their upper-bill is black, the lower is red. The call is a soft swee swee, hence the name. The swee waxbill is 9 to 10 cm long. The nest is made of grass, ball shaped, has a side entrance, and placed on a low brush.

Range: Southern Africa.

Habitat: Dry shrubland and open forest habitats.

Diet: Seeds, insects, spiders.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 2, 4) Derek Keats  3) Francesco_Veronesi - Africa
1) Male on left, female on right  2) Female  3, 4) Male



Waxbill,_Yellow-bellied also Yellow-bellied Swee   Coccopygia quartinia 
Description: The yellow-bellied waxbill, also known as the yellow-bellied swee, has an olive back including the wings, red rump plus upper-tail covers, black tail, a grey head, pale grey breast, and yellow belly. The female has a paler yellow belly. Their upper-bill is black, the lower is red. The call is a soft swee swee. The yellow-bellied waxbill is 9 to 10 cm long. The nest is made of grass, ball shaped, has a side entrance, and placed on a low brush or branch.

Range: East central and south-eastern Africa.

Habitat: Dry shrubland and open forest habitats, forest edges and clearings.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Peter Steward  2) Derek Keats - Zimbabwe  3) Francesco_Veronesi - Kenya




Genus Estrilda
Most of this genus is found in Africa with one species, the Arabian waxbill, ranging into Asia. Some species are kept as pets and have been accidentally introduced to various parts of the world. Their nest is typically ball shaped, made out of grass stems, has a tube-like entrance on the side or top. It may be placed on the ground, in a shrub, or low in a small tree. They eat main grass seeds, but also insects, especially during breeding season. They range length from 9 to cm long, which also happens to be the distribution of lengths for the common waxbill (Estrilda astrild)lwhich has 15 subspecies.

Waxbill,_Anambra Estrilda poliopareia 
Description: The Anambra waxbill has mainly dun-colored plumage. It has reddish-brown rump and bill; very pale eyes. The underparts have very fine barring on underparts. The Anambra waxbill is 11 to 12 cm long.

Range: Southern Nigeria.

Habitat: Long grass along rivers, marshes, and swamps. Maybe in forests.

Diet: Small seeds.

Conservation status: The Anambra waxbill is listed as Near Threatened since it appears to have a small population. More research is needed to determine among other things, its range.


Waxbill,_Arabian  Estrilda rufibarba
Description: The Arabian waxbill has greyish-brown upperparts including the crown and nape. There is faint barring on the crown and nape and sometimes on most of the plumage.The tail is black with white edging. It has whitish underparts. The bill is black except in breeding season the base is red. The male has red lores and eye-line while the female has a dark eye-line. The Arabian waxbill is about 10 cm long.

Range: Yemen and southwest Saudi Arabia.

Habitat: Usually with a dense cover of trees and bushes. Close to available water, especially irrigated agriculture.

Diet: Small seeds such as from grass or cereals.

Conservation status: Least Concern.


Waxbill,_Black-crowned  Estrilda nonnula 
Description: The black-crowned waxbill has grey upperparts with fine black bars. The crown, lores, and eyes are black. It has a red rump and upper-tail coverts. The underparts are white with a red patch on the flanks. The black bill has some red on it. The black-crowned waxbill is about 10 cm long. The similar black-headed waxbill has a black lower-belly.

Range: Western-central Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas at forest edges or in secondary growth.

Diet: Grass and other small seeds. Some insects such as termites.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Edward Cwik  2, 3) Francesco_Veronesi - Uganda



Waxbill, Black-headed  Estrilda atricapilla 
Description: The black-headed waxbill has greyish upperparts with black barring - this includes the upper-wing coverts. It has a black crown that extends just below the eyes. The forehead, lores, nape, and tail are also black. It has a red rump and upper-tail coverts plus a large red patch on the flanks. The female has less red on the flanks than the male. The face and throat are greyish white. The breast and upper-belly are grey while the lower belly and under-tail coverts are black. The black-headed waxbill is about 10 cm long. The nest is ball shaped, has a side entrance, is made from grass stems, and located in a bush. The Kandt's waxbill is sometimes consider a subspecies of Black-headed waxbill.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Tall grasses and sedges which may be found in forest clearings, roadsides, and villages.

Diet: Grass seeds, small insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Marcel Holyoak - Cameroon 2) Charles_J_Sharp - Rwanda  3, 4) Peter_Steward - Kenya



Waxbill,_Black-lored Estrilda nigriloris 
Description: The black-lored waxbill has light brown upperparts which have thin darker barrings which is darker over the wing coverts. The is a small black oval that extends from the lores to just behind the eyes. The cheeks and throat are whitish. The underparts are light brown with darker barring than the upperparts. There is red patch on the belly. The black-lored waxbill is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: DR Congo.

Habitat: Grassy plains with tall grasses and bushes.

Diet: Grass seeds and probably insects.

Conservation status: It is listed as Data Deficient


Waxbill,_Black-rumped  Estrilda troglodytes 
Description: The black-rumped waxbill has grey-brown upperparts with fine dark barring. It has red patch over the eyes. The tail and rump are black. The underparts are whitish with a pink tinge. The black-rumped waxbill is about 10 cm long.

Range: Central Africa. Introduced in southern Europe, Canary Islands, Hawaii.

Habitat: Grassy areas, especially near water.

Diet: Grass and other seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nik_Borrow - Ghana   2) Francesco_Veronesi - Gambia



Waxbill, Common   Estrilda astrild
Description: The common waxbill has mostly grey-brown plumage with the underparts lighter. It has a red bill, a red streak through eyes, whitish cheeks, whitish thoat, and a brown rump. Males have a reddish tinge to the belly. Females are similar to males, but paler and have little red. The common waxbill has 15 subspecies and they vary from 9 to 13 cm long.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa; widely introduced elsewhere.

Habitat: Grassy areas.

Diet: Grass seeds and other small seeds. Insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Juan Emilio   2) Andre Simons   3) Arno Meintjes   4) Dick Daniels on Oahu, Hawaii 



Waxbill,_Crimson-rumped  Estrilda rhodopyga 
Description: The crimson-rumped waxbill has greyish-brown upperparts with some barring on the wing coverts. There is a red stripe through the eyes. It has a red rump. The face, throat, and breast are whitish. The pale belly is pinkish. Females have paler underparts than males. The crimson-rumped waxbill is about 10 cm long.

Range: Eastern Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas. Also overgrown gardens.

Diet: Grass seeds. Aiso insects and larvae.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Francesco_Veronesi - Kenya  2) Naturelly  3, 4) Nik_Borrow - Ethiopia



Waxbill, Fawn-breasted  Estrilda paludicola 
Description: The fawn-breasted waxbill has brown upperparts including the wings. The head is grey with the ear coverts pale grey. It has a white throat and the underparts are yellowish-tan (fawn). The male has some pink tipped feather on the underparts, the female does not. They have a red bill, rump, and under-tail coverts. The fawn-breasted waxbill is 9 to 10 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Tall grass.

Diet: Grass sends and some insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden



Waxbill,_Orange-cheeked  Estrilda melpoda 
Description: The orange-cheeked waxbill has brown upperparts with a red rump and upper-tail coverts. The head is mainly grey with an orange face. It has a whitish throat, light grey breast and paler belly. The orange-cheeked waxbill is about 10 cm long. The nest made of heavy grass, has a tube-like entrance on top, located on or close to the ground.

Range: Western and central Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas, thickets.

Diet: Seeds and insects during breeding season.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Liam Wolff  2) Francesco Veronesi - Ghana  3) Steve_Garvie - Gambia  4) Hiyashi_Halso known as




Genus Glaucestrilda
These mainly grey African waxbills are from 10 to 11 cm long. They are typical waxwings: prefer grassy areas, make their ball shape nests out of grass and reeds, and eat mainly small seeds plus insects during breeding season.

Waxbill, Black-tailed also grey waxbill  Glaucestrilda perreini 
Description: The black-tailed waxbill, also known as the grey waxbill, has mainly grey plumage including the upper-tail. The under-tail is black. It has a thin black eye-line that extends to the lores. The rump and upper-tail coverts are red. The black-tailed waxbill is about 11 cm long.

Range: Southern Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas in open woodlands, forest clearings and edges, near streams.

Diet: Seeds, especially grass and nettles. Insects, fruits, nectar.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden  2) Alan_Manson  3) Nik_Borrow - Zambia



Waxbill,_Cinderella  Glaucestrilda thomensis  Found: Africa
Description: The Cinderella waxbill has mainly grey plumage with the underparts lighter. The Cinderella name refers to that grey plumage - the color of cinders. It has a small black eye-line, red rump, and black tail. The Cinderella waxbill is 11 cm long.

Range: Angola, Namibia.

Habitat: Dry shrubland, savannah and forest habitats at altitude of 200 to 500 m.

Diet: Mainly grass and other small seeds. Also insects, flowers.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Muchaxo  2) Ron_Knight  3) Nik_Borrow - Namibia



Waxbill,_Lavender   Glaucestrilda caerulescens 
Description: The lavender waxbill has mainly grey plumage with the throat and breast quite pale. The underparts have a tinge of lavender, hence the name. It has a black eye-line extends to the black bill. The tail and rump are red.The lavender waxbill is about 10 cm long.

Range: Central Africa. Introduced Hawaii.

Habitat: Dry shrubland.

Diet: Mainly grass and other small seeds. Also insects, flowers.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo  2) Charles_J_Sharp - Gambia 3) Frans_Vandewalle - Gambia




Twinspot and Allies
One branch of a proposed Lagonostictinae subfamily contains the twinspots and their allies. The twinspot genara are: Clytospiza, Euschistospiza, Hypargos, and  Mandingoa. The twinspots have plentiful white spots on their underparts. Their allies the firefinches, which are in Lagonosticta, also have white spots on their underparts, but they fewer and smaller than for the twinspotsd. The remaining allied species are in genus Pytilia. The twinspots and all of these allies prefer to eat small seeds, especially grass seeds. Most will also eat small insects, especially during breeding season. The are small birds, ranging from 9 to 13 cm long.


Genus Clytospiza - 1 species

Twinspot,_Brown  Clytospiza monteiri  
Description: The brown twinspot has brown upperparts, red rump, a grey head, pale blue eye-ring, and cinnamon underparts with white spots. The male has a small red throat patch while the female has a small white patch on her throat. The brown twinspot closet relatives are the firefinches in the genus Lagonosticta. The brown twinspot is about 12 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Shrubland, prior cultivated land.

Diet: Seeds, insects, spiders.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nrg800  1) Dick Daniels - Nairobi National Museum, Kenya  2) Nik_Borrow - Uganda   3) Francesco_Veronesi - Uganda 
2) Female




Genus Euschistospiza

Twinspot,_Dusky  Euschistospiza cinereovinacea  
Description: The dusky twinspot has dusky grey upperparts, head, and breast. The underparts are dark red with bold white dots near the flanks. It has a black bill. The dusky twinspot is about 11 cm long.

Range: Angola, DR Congo, Uganda.

Habitat: Tall grass and thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, small insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Peter_Steward - Uganda  2) Nik_Borrow - Uganda



Twinspot,_Dybowski's  Euschistospiza dybowskii  
Description: The Dybowski's twinspot has red upperparts with dark brown wings. The head, neck, and upper- breast are dark grey. There is a pink eye-ring and a black bill. It has black lower-breast and belly with white spots on the flanks and beyond. The Dybowski's twinspot is 12 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Grass areas, weed growth, thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Henrick Gronvold  2) Mikes_Birds




Genus Hypargos

Twinspot,_Peters's   Hypargos niveoguttatus 
Description: The male Peter's twinspot, also known as the red-throated twinspot, has a grey crown and mainly grey-brown back with brown wings. It has a red rump, upper-tail coverts, face, and upper-breast. The lower-breast, belly, and flanks are black with plentiful white spots except in the center of the belly. It has a dark bill, mainly black or grey. The female is duller than the male with more grey and less red. The Peter's twinspot is 12 to 13 cm long.

Range: East central Africa.

Habitat: Long grass, forest edges, thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: Sandy Cole - Butterfly World in Florida  2) Nigel Voaden - Congo  3) Francesco_Veronesi - Malawi
1) Female  2, 3) Male



Twinspot,_Pink-throated  Hypargos margaritatus 
Description: The male pink-throated twinspot has mainly brown upperparts. The rump and upper-tail coverts are pink; the tail is dark brown. It has a blue-grey bill. The female has a grey face, throat, breast and center of the belly. Both have the sides of the underparts black with white dots. The pink-throated twinspot is about 13 cm long. Their nest is ball shaped with a side entrance, made of leaf ribs, leaves, flowers, and probably grass stems.

Range: Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland.

Habitat: Dry woodlands with shrubs and thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Image by: 1, 2) Alan Manson - South Africa 
1) Female  2) Male




Genus Mandingoa - 1 species

Twinspot,_Green-backed  Mandingoa nitidula 
Description: The male green-backed twinspot has a green crown, upperparts, wings, and tail. It has a red face and chin. green throat and upper-breast, plus a black lower-breast and belly with white spots. The female is duller with a yellow face and chin. The male green-backed twinspot is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: Central and southern Africa.

Habitat: Lowland mosit forests, grasslands, and shrublands.

Diet: Grass and other seeds, insects, fruits.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) David_Cook - South Africa  2, 3) Bernard_Dupont - South Africa  
1, 2) Female 3) Male




Genus Lagonosticta
The firefinches are so named for their mainly red colors. They are small birds, averaging 10 cm long. They usually have some small white dots on their underparts, similar to the twinspots, but these spots are smaller and fewer. Like the other members of the Estrildidae family, they mainly eat seeds with grass seeds being their favorite. Most will also eat some small insects. Their nests are made mostly out of grass fibers, are ball shaped, usually have a side entrance, and are located either on the ground or close to it.

Firefinch,_African  Lagonosticta rubricata 
Description: The male African firefinch has an olive-brown upperparts including the wings. The crown, nape, and neck are grey. It has a, red rump, red upper-tail, and scarlet underparts with some white spots. The bill is blue-grey and the under-tail is black. Females are similarly but less intensely colored. The African firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long. The nest is dome shaped, made of grass, located in a bush.

Range: Mainly on the east coast of Sub-Saharan Africa, but also in the vicinity of Nigeria.

Habitat: Humid, thickly vegetated locations, forest edges, savanna and other grassy areas.

Diet: Grass seeds and small insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Lip kee - Ethiopia  2) Joseph Mochoge - Kenya   3, 4) Alan_Manson  Martin_Heigan - South Africa
1, 2) Female  3, 4) Male



Firefinch,_Bar-breasted  Lagonosticta rufopicta 
Description: The bar-breasted firefinch has greyish-brown upperparts and crown. The rest of the head is red and there are pinkish eye-rings.  It has a dark red lower rump and upper-tail coverts. The breast is red with white speckling and the belly is buffy grey. The bar-breasted firefinch is 9 to 10 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Grassland, bush, acacia savanna and forest clearings.

Diet: Grass seeds and probably some insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Francesco Veronesi - Ghana   2) Nik_Borrow - Ghana  3) Peter_Steward - Kenya
1) Juvenile or female



Firefinch,_Black-bellied  Lagonosticta rara 
Description: The male black-belled firefinch has red upperparts including the head. It has a mainly black tail with a red base. The upper-breast is red as are the flanks with the rest of the underparts black. The female has much of the red replaced with a greyish-brown and her belly is not as dark as the male's. The black-belled firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Grassland, bush, coastal thickets, and forest clearings.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 2)  Nik_Borrow - Cameroon
1) Male left, female right  2) Female



Firefinch,_Black-faced  Lagonosticta larvata 
Description: The black-faced firefinch has slate grey upperparts with brown wings. It has a brownish-grey forehead and crown. The male has a black face and throat, while they are grey on the female. They both have a pale blue eye-ring. He has a red breast and dark belly; she has some pink to the breast with a greyish-buff belly. Both may have a few white spots on the underparts, especially on or near the flanks. The black-faced firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: Central Africa from Guinea to Ethiopia.

Habitat: Grassy areas with some trees.

Diet: Seeds, some insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1)  Peter_Wilton - Ethiopia



Firefinch,_Brown  Lagonosticta nitidula 
Description: The brown firefinch has a grey-brown mantle transitioning to brown towards the rump. The wings are darker brown and the tail yet darker. It has a mainly grey head and nape. There are pale blue eye-rings. The face and breast are pink with white spots on the breast. It has a grey belly. The similar female is paler. The brown firefinch is up to 10 cm long.

Range: Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Habitat: Tall grass, especially near water. Also found at forest edges.

Diet: Grass seeds; small insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden - Zambia  2) Maans_Booysen - Namibia



Firefinch,_Chad Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis 
Description: The male Chad firefinch, also known as Reichenow's firefinch, has mainly bright pinkish-red plumage with the upperparts darker. It has a grey head with red lores and face. The nape is grey as are the legs and bill. The female has brown upperparts, grey face, and lores red. The male Chad firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: Chad and adjacent Cameroon.

Habitat: Grasslands, and rocky hillsides in areas of arid savannah with tall grass.

Diet: Grass seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden - Cameroon



Firefinch,_Jameson's  Lagonosticta rhodopareia 
Description: The male Jameson's firefinch has brown upperparts with a pink tinge. The wing coverts have red edges. It has a grey crown, red face, and red throat. The breast and flanks are red; the belly is black; and the tail is black with some red on the edges. The female is paler and has more grey on her head. The Jameson's firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: Central and southern Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas, mainly in lowlands.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by:  1, 2) Alan Manson  3) Stephen_Temple - South Africa
1) Female  2) Male



Firefinch,_Mali  Lagonosticta virata 
Description: The Mali firefinch has grey-brown upperparts, including the wings. crown, and nape. The lower back is browner. The face and chin are red. It has pinkish-grey underparts with some indistinct pale spots. The female is paler than the male. The Mali firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long.

Range: Mali and Senegal (both of western Africa).

Habitat: Rock areas with seeds available.

Diet: Grass seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.


Firefinch,_Red-billed  Lagonosticta senegala 
Description: The male red-billed firefinch has mainly scarlet plumage. The head and nape are reddish-brown, the wings are brown. It has a yellow eye-ring  and a pink bill.The female has mainly brown upperparts with red lores and some pink on the face. She has buff underparts, a small red patch in front of both eyes, and a pink bill. They have some small white spots near the flanks. The red-billed firefinch is about 10 cm long.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat: Grassland, cultivated areas, villages.

Diet: Grain and other seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by:  1, 3) Charles_Sharp - The Gambia   2, 4) ChriKo - Senegal
1, 2) Female 3, 4) Male



Firefinch,_Rock  Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis 
Description: The male rock firefinch has mainly red plumage. It has a grey crown, dark brown upper-wing, and a black tail with some red. The similar female has a grey head with red lores. The rock firefinch is 10 to 11 cm long. The nest is ball shaped, made of grasses, and usually located on the ground.

Range: Mainly Nigeria; also northern Cameroon.

Habitat: Rocky hills and mountains.

Diet: Seeds. They avoid feeding during the heat of the day to reduce water loss.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by : 1) Ron Knight - Cameroon




Genus Lepidopygia - 1 species

Mannikin,_Madagascar  also  Madagascar Munia  Lepidopygia nana 
Description: The Madagascar mannikin, aka the Madagascar munia, has greyish-brown upperparts. The crown is grey sometimes with some black mixed in. The wings and tail are dark. It has pinkish-buff underparts with small dark marks. It has a black bill and throat. This is a small mannikin, only 9 cm long. They are sociable, sometimes in flocks of 50.

Range: Madagascar.

Habitat: Grasslands, shrublands, dry forests.

Diet: Grass seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Morondava, Madagascar  2) Amy McAndrews  3) Francesco_Veronesi




Genus Pytilia
The pytilia of genus Pytilia have smaller than average bills than other members of the family Estrildidae. The mainly eat grass seeds and also small insects, especially termites. Their underparts are to some extent finely barred. The nests are ball shaped, made from grass, have a side entrance, and located a few meters off the ground.

Pytilia,_Green-winged  Pytilia melba
Description: The male green-winged pytilia has yellowish-green upperparts, including the wings. The forehead, cheeks, and lores are red; the rest of the head is grey. The upper-breast is yellow-green and the rest of the underparts has dark grey and light barring. The similar female has no red and no yellow-green on her breast. They have red bills. The green-winged pytilia is about 13 cm long. They have a ball shaped nest, with a side entrance, made from grass, and constructed in a tree or brush.

Range: Sub-saharan Africa.

Habitat: Savanna, forest edges, thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, insect.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: Image by:  1) Dick - San Diego Zoo   2) Derek_Keats - South Africa   3) Bernard_Dupont - South Africa  4) Arno Meintjes 
1, 2) Female  3, 4) Male



Pytilia,_Orange-winged  Pytilia afra 
Description: The male orange-winged pytilia, also known as the golden-backed pytilia, has a green back with olive tinge. The face and chin are red; the crown and nape are grey; and the wings are orange. It has a pale grey throat and upper-breast. The lower-breast is olive with off-white bars. It has a red belly and rump, The duller female has a greyish head with no red. They have red bills. The orange-winged pytilia is 11 cm long.

Range: Eastern and southern Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas, open woodland, thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, termites.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by:  1) Bill Higham - Mozambique  2) George_Dubois - Zimbabwe 
1) Female left, male right  2) Male



Pytilia,_Red-billed  Pytilia lineata
Description: The red-billed pytilia has a grey head and upperparts including the upper-wing coverts. It has a red rump and the tail is mainly red. The underparts are barred grey and white. The female is very similar. They have red bills. The red-billed pytilia is about 13 cm long.

Range: Ethiopia.

Habitat: Grassy areas, shrubs.

Diet: Seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.


Pytilia,_Red-faced Pytilia hypogrammica 
Description: The male red-faced pytilia, also known as the yellow-winged ptyilia, has grey upperparts, including the crown and nape. He has a red forehead, face, throat, rump, and upper-tail coverts. The outer flight feathers are edged with yellow. The underparts are greenish-grey with fine black and white barring. The female has no red on the head. The red-faced pytilia is about 12 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Forest edges, especially near water, woodlands.

Diet: Grass seeds, termites and other small insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Edward Cwik  2) Nik_Borrow - Cameroon



Pytilia,_Red-winged  Pytilia phoenicoptera
Description: The male red-winged pytilia has grey upperparts including the head. The wings and tail are mostly red. The throat is grey. It has grey and white barred underparts. The female has less grey on her wings. The red-winged pytilia is about 13 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Woodlands and thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, termites.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 2) Nik_Borrow - Ghana 3) Arno Meintjes 
1) Female left, male right  2) Male




Cordon-Bleus and Allies
The other branch of the proposed Lagonostictinae subfamily contains the following genera: Granatina, Pyrenestes, Spermophagam and Uraeginthus. The 2 grenadier species of Granatina and the 3 cordonbleus of Uraeginthus all have blue as an important color and are closely related. The three bluebills and one silverbill of genus Spermophagam have large distinct bills as do the 3 seedcrackers of Pyrenestes.


Genus Granatina
The grenadiers uses to be place in Uraeginthus but DNA analysis showed that they are not closely related.

Grenadier,_Common also Violet-eared waxbill Granatina granatina
Description: The male common grenadier, also known as the violet-eared waxbill, has mainly chestnut plumage. It has olive-brown wings. He has a bright violet face and rump. The female is less vivid violet, and her tail is shorter than the male's. Their bill is red and there is a red eye-ring.The violet-eared waxbill is 14 cm long, which is large for an African finch.

Range: Southern Africa.

Habitat: Savanna with acacia trees, forest, and thickets.

Diet: Grass seeds, fruits, insects, spiders.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Alastair Rae   2) Bernard_Dupont - South Africa  3) Ian White - Zambia  4) Derek_Keats - South Africa
1, 2) Female   3, 4) Male



Grenadier,_Purple Granatina ianthinogaster 
Description: The male purple grenadier, also known as the violet-ear waxbill, has violet-blue underparts with variable rufous patchers. The female has mostly cinnamon-brown plumage with white barring on the underparts. She has a silver-blue eye-patch. The purple grenadier is 13 to 14 cm long. The make a ball shaped nest out of grass, it has a side entrance and is placed in a shrub or on the ground.

Range: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Habitat: Dry shrubland.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects - especially termites.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Masai Mara, Kenya  4) Francesco_Veronesi - Kenya
1, 2) Female   3, 4) Male




Genus Pyrenestes
They are gregarious seed eaters with short, very thick, black bills. All have crimson on the face and tail.

Seedcracker,_Black-bellied  Pyrenestes ostrinus 
Description: The male black-bellied seedcracker has a red head, throat, breast, rump. The rest of his plumage is black, There are white crescents above and below the eye. The female has the black replaced by brown, a duller red, and lacks the striking white eye marks. The size of their dark grey bill varies considerably depending on the morph. The black-bellied seedcracker is 14 to 15 cm long.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat: Tropical rainforest. However, they also occupy drier habitats such as dry broadleaf forest, grassland, savanna and shrubland.

Diet: Mostly seeds from sedges. Also insects and berries.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 3) Nik_Borrow - Uganda, Cameroon 2) Francesco Veronesi - Ghana 
1) Female  2, 3) Male



Seedcracker,_Crimson  Pyrenestes sanguineus 
Description: The male crimson seedcracker has a red head, throat, breast, rump. The rest of his plumage is dark brown, There are white crescents above and below the eye. The female has the dark brown replace by lighter brown. She has red on the head, throat, and rump. There are two morphs that have different bill sizes. The crimson seedcracker is 14 to 15 cm long.

Range: Western Africe - Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Habitat: Dense undergrowth near water. Diet: Mostly seeds from sedges and rice.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Orca_and_Cie - captive  2) Nik_Borrow - Sierra Leone
1, 2) Male



Seedcracker,_Lesser  Pyrenestes minor 
Description: The male lesser seedcracker has a red head, throat, breast, and rump. The rest of his plumage is brown. The female is similar to the male with her red restricted to the face and throat. They have a black bill. The lesser seedcracker is 13 to 14 cm long.

Range: Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

Habitat: Grassy areas, forest edges, clearings, scrubby areas.

Diet: Seeds, especially grass and rice.

Conservation status: Least Concern.



Genus Spermestes
They are small gregarious birds which feed mainly on seeds, usually in relatively open habitats, preferring to feed on the ground or on reeds of grasses. They have stubby bills, stocky bodies and long tails. Most are 10–12 cm in length. The plumage is usually a combination of browns, black and white.

These finches are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They used to be included with the Asian and Australasian of Lonchura.


Mannikin,_Black-and-white Spermestes bicolor 
Description: The black-and-white mannikin, aka the black-and-white munia, come in two different color patterns. The upperparts can be entirely black except for some small white dots or the back can be brown. For both cases, the head, tail, and breast are black ,the belly is white, and the flanks are spotted black and white. The black-and-white mannikin is about 10 cm long.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat: Savanna and moist tropical lowland forests.

Diet: Seeds, also algae.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Bernard_Dupont  2) Dick Daniels  - Butterfly World, Florida  3, 4) Alan Manson



Mannikin,_Bronze  Spermestes cucullata
Description: The bronze mannikin, aka the bronze munia, has greyish-brown upperparts. The head is black to blackish-brown. It has whitish underparts with irregular barring on the flanks and rump. There is some purple-green iridescence on the face and sides of the breast. It has a grey bill.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa.Introduced Caribbean

Habitat: Grasslands and shrubby areas with some grass..

Diet: Seeds, especially grass. Also small insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 5, 6) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World, Florida  4) Alan_Manson
1) Juvenile



Mannikin,_Magpie  also Magpie Munia  Spermestes fringilloides 
Description: The magpie mannikin, aka the magpie munia, has a brown back, wings, and tail. It has a black head and white underparts. The lower bill is grey, the upper-bill is usually black but may be grey.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Grasslands, shrub lands.

Diet: Grass and other grain seeds, bamboo seeds; also some insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by:  1) Gallo71  2, 3) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo    4) Francesco_Veronesi - Ghana



Silverbill,_Grey-headed    Spermestes griseicapilla 
Description: The grey-headed silverbill has greyish-brown upperparts and a grey head with white dots, It has black wings, a black tail with white upper-tail covers. and a white rump. The breast and flanks are cinnamon and the bill is whitish. The grey-headed silverbill is 11 cm long. The nest has a roughly ball shape, has a side entrance, made from grass, and located in a tree.

Range: Eastern Africa - eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

Habitat: Dry grassland, open woodland.

Diet: Seeds, especially grass. Also insects during breeding season. Forages on the ground.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Image by: 1) Tarique Sani  2) Francesco Veronesi - Kenya  3) Christiaan_Kooyman - Kenya




Genus Spermophaga

They are gregarious seed eaters with short, thick bills. Except for the grey-headed silverbill, their bills are mostly silvery-blue. All have plumage which is mainly crimson and black or dark grey.  Again with the exception of the silverbills, all females have dark bellies with white spots. They probably all have ball shaped nests, made from grass and leaves, with a side entrance, and a couple of meters off the ground. They are 14 to 15 cm long, again with an exception for the silverbill which is only 11 cm long.

Bluebill,_Grant's   Spermophaga poliogenys 
Description: The Grant's bluebill has a mostly red head and red breast. He has a dark forehead and white eye-ring. The rest of the plumage is black. The female's head and upperparts are dark grey. Her belly is also grey, and it has white spots. The base half of their bill is blue, the rest is red. The Grant's bluebill is about 14 cm long.

Range: Congo, Uganda.

Habitat: Forests, thickets.

Diet: Seeds, insects, spiders.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by:  1) Peter_Steward - Uganda



Bluebill, Red-headed  Spermophaga ruficapilla  Found: Africa
Description: The male red-headed bluebill has a black head, throat, and breast. He has a white eye-ring. His belly is black and the rest of his plumage is black. The female is similar with the black replaced by dark grey. Also, there are white spots on her belly. Their bills are almost entirely blue. The red-headed bluebill is about 15 cm long.

Range: Mostly in DR Congo and Uganda. Also Burundi, Central African Republic, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania.

Habitat: Forests, thickets.

Diet: Seeds, insects, spiders.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Peter_Steward - Kenya  2) Francesco_Veronesi - Kenya  3) Nik_Borrow - Uganda
1) Female  2, 3) Male



Bluebill, Western  Spermophaga haematina   Found: Africa
Description: The male western bluebill has a black head, upperparts including the tail, and lower-belly. His throat, breast, upper-belly, and rump are red. He has a white eye-ring. The female has dark grey upperparts. Her lower-belly and rump are black with white spots.  They both have blue bills. The western bluebill is 15 cm long.

Range: Mostly in DR Congo and Uganda. Also Burundi, Central African Republic, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania.

Habitat: Forests edges, clearings, and undergrowth, thickets.

Diet: Seeds, insects, spiders, berries.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Allan Hopkins - Gambia  2) Francesco_Veronesi
1) Female 2) Male






Genus Uraeginthus

Cordonbleu,_Blue-breasted    Uraeginthus angolensis
Description: The blue-breasted cordonbleu , also known as the blue waxbill, also known as the southern cordonblue, has brown upperparts. The bill is pinkish-grey. It has a blue face, throat, and underparts. The female has paler blue than the male.  The blue-breasted cordonbleu is 12 to 13 cm long. They construct an oval shaped nest, with a side entrance, placed in a bush or tree. The similar red-cheeked cordonbleu. has red cheeks.

Range: Southern Africa.

Habitat: Well-watered and semi-arid savanna, natural growth in cultivated land, and forest edges.

Diet: Grass seeds, termites, and other insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Hans Hillewaert  2) Derek_Keats - South Africa    3) Paul Baker  4) Arno Meintjes
1m 2) Female  3, 4) Male



Cordonbleu,_Blue-capped   Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Description: The blue-capped cordonbleu has brown upperparts. It has blue cap, face, throat, breast, flanks, and tail. It has a brown belly and light eye-ring. The female has a blue forehead, but the rear of her crown is brown. The blue-capped cordonbleu is about 13 cm long.

Range: East-central Africa.

Habitat: Dry grasslands, shrublands, and deserts.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects - especially termites.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 3) Sandy Cole - San Diego Zoo   2) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo 4) Francesco_Veronesi - Tanzania
1, 2) Female   3, 4) Male



Cordonbleu,_Red-cheeked  Uraeginthus bengalus
Description: The male red-cheeked cordonbleu has brown upperparts with red cheeks. It has a blue eye patch, throat, breast, and blue flanks. There is a very small blue patch on the forehead. It has a yellowish-brown belly. The similar female has a blue cheek. The red-cheeked cordonbleu is 12 to 13 cm long. They construct an oval shaped nest out of grass, with a side entrance, and placed in a bush or tree a few meters off the ground.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Grassland with bushes available.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects - especially termites.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Kenya  2, 4) Charles_J_Sharp - Gambia  3) Darren Bellerby - Kenya 
1, 2) Female  3, 4) Male





Crimsonwings and Olivebacks


Genus Cryptospiza
Crimson-wings have a reddish back and rump, grey or olive underparts. They are secretive birds which mainly inhabit mountain forests with dense undergrowth. They usually forage on or near the ground, feeding mainly on seeds such as those of grasses and balsam.

Crimsonwing, Abyssinian   Cryptospiza salvadorii 
Description: The male Abyssinian crimsonwing has mainly dark red upperparts with a greenish-grey nape and dark crimson wings. The head is also greenish-grey. It has a greyish-white throat and mostly pale grey underparts with dark red flanks. His tail and bill are black. The female is similar but has less red. The Abyssinian crimsonwing is 10 to 11 cm long. They have a ball shaped nest, which has a side entrance, made of grass and twigs. It is located a few meters off the ground, usually in a small tree.

Range: Eastern Africa.

Habitat: Between 1500 and 3000 meters in forests edges and clearings. Also secondary forests and along streams.

Diet: Grass and other seeds; also insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) JP Goodey
1) Male



Crimsonwing,_Dusky  Cryptospiza jacksoni 
Description: The dusky crimsonwing has red upperparts with dark wings and tail. The head is mostly red with grey on the neck. It has grey underparts. The similar female has less red and a grey eye-ring versus pink for the male. The dusky crimsonwing is about 11 cm long.

Range: DR Congo, Rwanda, Uganda.

Habitat: Thick undergrowth of woodlands, forest clearings and edges.

Diet: Seeds, insects, and small snails.

Conservation status: Least Concern.


Crimsonwing,_Shelley's  Cryptospiza shelleyi 
Description: The male Shelley's crimsonwing has a red head, nape, and mantle. The upper-wings and tail are black. He has an olive breast and black belly. The female has red upperparts with brownish wings. Her head is green as is the breast. The belly is white. The Shelley's crimsonwing is about 13 cm long.

Range: Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Uganda.

Habitat: Dense undergrowth, forest edges and clearings.

Diet: Seeds, insects.

Conservation status:  It is listed as Endangered due to its restricted range and declining population.


Crimsonwing, Red-faced  Cryptospiza reichenovii 
Description: The male red-faced crimsonwing has red upperparts, including the wings. The head is mainly olive with a red face. The female's upperparts are more olive and there is a pale eye patch. They have olive underparts, a black bill, and brown legs. The red-faced crimsonwing is 10 to 11 cm long. Their nest is ball shaped, made of grass and other soft plant material, and placed in a shrub or briars.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Thickets, dense undergrowth of woodlands.

Diet: Seeds, small invertebrates.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Bart Wursten - Zimbabwe  2) Derek_Keats  3) Nik_Borrow - Zibabwe




Genus Delacourella - 1 species
The grey-headed oliveback used to be placed in Nesocharis, but they are not closely related.

Oliveback, grey-headed   Delacourella capistrata 
Description: The grey-headed oliveback, also known as the white-cheeked oliveback, has golden-olive upperparts and tail. The head is grey with a white face and with a black bib which extends to create a half collar. It has grey underparts. The grey-headed oliveback is 14 cm long. Its nest is a covered structure, made from grass and weeds, has a side entrance, and placed a few meters off the ground in a bush or tree.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas, forest edges, near water.

Diet: Fig seeds, grass seeds, fruit, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - specimen in Nairobi National Museum, Kenya  2) Nigel Voaden - Cameroon



Genus Nesocharis

Oliveback,_Shelley's  Nesocharis shelleyi 
Description: The male Shelley's oliveback has olive upperparts with a golden-olive rump. The head and throat are black. The nape and belly are grey while the breast is greenish-yellow. The similar female has entirely grey underparts. The Shelley's oliveback is small, only 8 cm long.

Range: Bioko island (off western Africa), western Cameroon and adjacent Nigeria.

Habitat: Montane forests and plantations; usually between 1500 and 2000 meters.

Diet: Insects and seeds which it gets mainly while in trees.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Henrik_Gronvold  2) Ron_Knight - Cameroon  3) Nik_Borrow - Cameroon
1) Male left, female right 2) Female 3) Male



Oliveback,_White-collared  Nesocharis ansorgei 
Description: The white-collared oliveback is almost identical in appearance to Shelley's oliveback. The main difference is that the male has a narrow white collar between the black of its head and the lower grey collar. It is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Shelley's oliveback. At about 10 cm long, it is larger than Shelley's. Their ranges do not overlap.

Range: Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda.

Habitat: Forest edges; prefers to be close to water; can be found as low as 1000 meters.

Diet: Seeds; probably also insects. It forages in trees.

Conservation status: Least Concern.



Finches, Quailfinch, Locust Finch, and Avadavats

Genus Amadina has two "finches", both have large bills and are grass seed eaters. The quailfinch of Ortygospiza used to be split into three different species, but at least for now they have been combined into one. The locust finch of Paludipasser is an odd little bird, and it is unclear if the quailfinch is its closest relative. Two of the three avadavats of genus Amandava are found in Asia, not Africa, and thus the genus is not included in this article about African finches.

Genus Amadina

Finch,_Cut-throat  Amadina fasciata  
Description: The cut-throat finch has pale sandy-brown plumage with flecks of black all over, a black-brown tail, chestnut-brown patch on the belly, and pink legs. The male has a bright red band across its throat, hence the name. It either makes a nest (ball with side entrance, constructed of grass and twigs) or uses an old weaver nest. The cut-throat finch is 11 to 12 cm long.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat: Open dry woodland, savannah, outskirts of town.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image at National Aviary by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels 
1) Pair  2) Female  3, 4) Male



Finch,_Red-headed  Amadina erythrocephala 
Description: The male red-headed finch has a grey mantle, and greyish-brown lower-back plus rump. His head and nape are bright red. The breast is grey covered with white spots in a bar like pattern. The similar but duller female has a grey head. Their hefty light colored bill is pinkish during breeding season. The red-headed finch is 12 to 13 cm long.

Range: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Habitat: Dry savannah.

Diet: Feeds on the ground for grass seeds and insects.

Conservation status: Least Concern. .
Image by:   1, 2, 3) Derek_Keats - South Africa  4) Cristiano Crolle - Namibia  
1) Pair  2) Female  3 -4) Male



Genus Ortygospiza
The quailfinch are found in open grasslands in Africa. They are gregarious seed-eaters with short, thick, red bills. They are very terrestrial, with lark-like feet and claws.The quailfinch currently has 11 recognized subspecies and they are organized into three groups: the black-faced quailfinch, the black-chinned quailfinch, and the spectacled quailfinch. Each of these groups used to be considered a separate species: Ortygospiza atricollis, Ortygospiza gabonensis, and Ortygospiza fuscocrissa.

Quailfinch  Ortygospiza atricollis 
Description: The male nominate quailfinch (black-faced quailthrush) has grey-brown upperparts with brown wing and tail. It has a black face and throat. The upper-breast and flanks are black with grey white barring. It has a chestnut lower-breast. The female nominate quailthrush has a grey face. The male black-chinned quailfinch is similar to the black-face male, but there is a a little white on the face. The male spectacled quailfinch has bold white spectacles. The quailthrush is 9 to 10 cm long. It has a ball shaped nest, entrance on the side, constructed from grass and small roots, located on the ground.

Range: Central and southern Africa.

Habitat: Grassy areas, rice fields.

Diet: Grass seeds, insects, spiders.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Steve Garvie  2, 3) Nik Borrow  4, 5) Nik Borrow   6) Derek_Keats - South Africa
1) Blackfaced (O. a. atricollis) - male    2, 3) Black-chinned (O. a. gabonensis) - female, male  4, 5) Spectacled (A. o. muelleri) - female, male  6) Spectacled (A. a. digressa) - male





Genus Paludipasser

Finch,_Locust   Paludipasser locustella  
Description: The locust finch has mainly dark brown upperparts with white spots. It has red wing-coverts. The throat, face, bill, and upper-breast are also red. It has a dark lower-breast and belly. The locust finch is 9 to 10 cm long. It has a ball shaped nest, with a side entrance, made from grass, and located on the ground. It is so named because it often rises suddenly from the ground when disturbed and then shortly thereaafter returns to the ground, which is similar to the  flight partern of a locust..

Range: South-central and south-eastern Africa.

Habitat: Grasslands and areas with grass available.

Diet: Grass seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Henrik_Gronvold





Nigritas and Antpeckers
These are exceptions to the grass seed lovers of African finces. The nigrita prefer insects, but also eat seeds fairly often. As a result, their bills are not as robust as a typical African finch. The antpeckers specialize in ants, and eat seeds more infrequently than the migrita, as a result their bills are not wedge shaped.

Genus Nigrita
The nigrita have grey or brown upperparts, short black bills, whistling or trilling songs and calls. Unlike most of the family members of Estrildidae, their favorite foods are not seeds - they prefer insects, and fruits, followed by seeds. Because of their food selection, the nigrita do not have the typical hefty bill of a finch.

Nigrita, Chestnut-breasted  Nigrita bicolor 
Description: The chestnut-breasted nigrita has grey upperparts including the crown and nape. It has a short black bill. The face, throat, and underparts are dark reddish-brown (chestnut). The chestnut-breasted nigrita is 11 to 12 cm long. Its nest is ball-shaped, made from grass and leaves, has a side entrance, and located in trees.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Woodlands, savanna.

Diet: Insects, figs; also seeds, nectar.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - specimen in Nairobi National Museum, Kenya 



Nigrita, grey-headed   Nigrita canicapillus 
Description: The grey-headed nigrita has pale grey upperparts including the crown and nape. The rest of the head is black as are the upper-wings, throat, and underparts. There are some white spots on the upper-wings. The grey-headed nigrita is up to 14 cm long. The circular nest is covered with a dome, has a side entrance, and located high in trees.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Forest clearing and edges, along streams, plantation. Sea level to over 3000 meters.

Diet: Insects, fruits, seeds; also nectar.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) Mientjie 2) Peter Steward  3) Joseph Mochoge - Gilgil, Kenya



Nigrita, Pale-fronted  Nigrita luteifrons 
Description: The male pale-fronted nigrita has a pale grey forehead, crown, nape, mantle, and rump. The upper-wings, face, throat, and underparts are black. The female has mainly grey plumage with a black mask, upper-wings and upper-tail. The pale-fronted nigrita is about 12 cm long. The nest is ball shaped, made of grass and moss, has a side entrance, and located in a bush or low in a tree,

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Forest clearing and edges, thickets, plantation.

Diet: Insects, figs; also seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 2) Nik_Borrow - Gabon
1) Female  2) Male



Nigrita, White-breasted  Nigrita fusconotus 
Description: The white-breasted nigrita has a brown back and wings. It has a black cap and white underparts. The white-breasted nigrita is about 11 cm long.

Range: Central Africa.

Habitat: Forest edges and clearings, palms, plantations.

Diet: Insects, figs and other fruits; also seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - specimen in Nairobi National Museum, Kenya   2, 3) Nik Borrow - Uganda




Genus Parmoptila
Unlike most of the African Estrildidae finches that prefer seeds, antpecker's favorite food is ants.

Antpecker,_Jameson's  Parmoptila jamesoni 
Description: The male Jameson's antpecker has dark olive-brown upperparts with the tail and wings brown. The crown is olive-brown, the forehead and face are rufous as are the underparts. The female has similar upperparts and face. Her underparts have a scaled appearance produced by alternating olive-brown with pale partterns. The Jameson's antpecker is about 11 cm long. It was previously considered a subspecies of the red-fronted antpecker.

Range: DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda.

Habitat: Tropical lowland moist forest.

Diet: Insects, especially ants. Also seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1, 2) Tom Tarrant - Tanzania
1) Female 2) Male



Antpecker,_Red-fronted  Parmoptila rubrifrons 
Description: The red-fronted antpecker has grey-brown upperparts including the rear-crown. The upper-wings and upper-tail are brown. The face has a pixilated white and dark pattern. It has a red forehead, fore-crown, and underparts. The female has grey-brown upperparts, an unmarked grey face, and underparts that have a scaled appearance produced by alternating olive-brown with pale patterns.

Range: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

Habitat: Primary forests, logged forests, prefers wet areas.

Diet: Insects, especially ants. Also seeds.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: Dave_Curtis- Ghana   2) Nik_Borrow - Ghana
1, 2) Male



Antpecker, Woodhouse's  Parmoptila woodhousei 
Description: The Woodhouse's antpecker has brown upperparts, scaled brown and white underparts.  The male has a bright red forecrown.The female has a rufous-brown wash to throat. The Woodhouse's antpecker is about 11 cm long. It creates a domed nest from leaves, bark and moss. It has a side entranced and placed low in a tree.

Range: Central Africa

Habitat: Forests with tangled vines and creepers in the undergrowth.

Diet: Ants, other insects, fruits. Forages on the trees and also the ground.

Conservation status: Least Concern.
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans  2, 3) Nik_Borrow - Cameroon
3) Male







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