Common Waxbill

Estrilda astrild (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild, breeds across western, central, eastern and southern Africa. It is a small passerine in the waxbill family, with a slender build, short rounded wings and a long graduated tail. The adult has a bright red bill, the feature that gives it its name, and the plumage is mainly grey-brown with fine dark barring. A red line runs through the eye, while the cheeks and throat are whitish. Females are paler than males, and young birds are duller with a black bill.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Estrildidae — Waxbills, Munias & Allies

Breeding range

Africa: w, c, e, s