Length 14-15cm, 5.5-6 inches.

Description: Band of deep blue between tops of eyes and base of bill, which is red in mature adults. Purple cheeks; chin and throat are black, rest of head is deep brown, and this colour extends down mantle and back. The underparts are this same shade of brown. Black tail, with deep blue edges.Wings are a lighter shade of brown and edges of component feathers are lighter still.

Females are a lighter shade ofthe same basic colouration, and have a somewhat shorter tail. Juvenile colouration resembles the adult female but is duller and has much less obvious cheek patch, the bill is black.Undergoes partial moult at 25-35 days, shedding the feathers only of those parts of the head that are purple, blue or black in the adult, the complete moult to adult plumage takes place several weeks later.

Distribution and Habitat: Widely distributed over most of southern Africa. Frequents dry scrub, open woodland with a thorn understorey, and sometimes scrub vegetation along the banks of streams. The Violet-eared Waxbill often occupies territory a long way from water, in this situation it is thought that they may feed on termites as an alternative source of moisture.

Housing: Not one of the hardier waxbills in the UK climate. Should ideally be kept inside during the colder months, but if remaining in aviary accommodation must be given a heated shelter. Goodwin states that these birds will not tolerate others of their own or even closely-related species in close proximity and should therefore be kept one pair to an aviary.

Feeding: Should have a good foreign finch mix, with extras such as wild seeds and seeding grasses in season. These birds are more insectivorous than most waxbills and will benefit from live food, and/or a specialist softbill-type mixture, all the year round.

Breeding: The rounded nest is built of grass stems or similar, and lined with feathers. It has a side entrance which may feature a rudimentary porch. A clutch is 2-5 eggs, and incubation is around 13 days, with hatched young remaining in the nest for up to three weeks. Youngsters will not be reared successfully without plentiful live food. Breeding in an outdoors aviary is often unsuccessful in the British climate, the parents will sleep out of the nest after the first week and the chicks may suffer in a cold snap.

References: Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Goodwin (1982); Restall (1975); Verhoef-Verhallen (1999).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 11.5cm, 4.5 inches.

Description: Basic colour is olive (which is darker on the upperparts than underneath), with red on the back, rump, wings and flanks, bill is dark grey. The male has a crimson eye patch, on the female this is pale olive.

Juveniles resemble the female but crimson colouring is absent on the flanks and less extensive elsewhere. Males begin to develop their eye spots around 3 weeks after fledging.

Distribution and Habitat: Inhabits dense undergrowth in forest and bamboo and thus, despite it’s widespread distribution, it is rarely seen. Usually feeds on grass seeds on the ground but takes other seeds and some insects and may even extract seeds from conifer cones. Likes to be close to forest edges, streams, paths or other small clearings, streams etc, probably for feeding purposes.

Housing: Should ideally be kept inside during the colder months, but if remaining in aviary accommodation must have a heated shelter available. Given this basic care, the Red-faced Crimson Wing has been found to do well in the UK.

Feeding: Should be provided with as varied a selection of seeds as possible, with seeding grasses supplied in season. Also likes chickweed and takes soft food and live food such as mini mealworms, spiders etc. Soaked seed is particularly useful when birds are rearing young.

Breeding: Built mainly by the cock bird, nests will be constructed in boxes or baskets, using grasses, coconut fibre etc and lined with feathers and/or moss.The nest may have a short entrance tube. Both birds take turns to incubate the 3 to 4 eggs. Fledging takes place at about 21 days, and the cock will continue feeding the young for up to 12 days. The fledglings may return to the nest for the first few nights after leaving it, but this is not invariable.

References: Goodwin (1982); Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Restall (1975); Williams and Arlott (1980).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 12-13cm, 4.5-5 inches.

Description: Head and throat grey, being darker on the crown, with black side patches. Bill is black at tip, fading to blue-gray at base. Back is brown, faintly barred. Wing coverts and secondaries striped black and white. Rump and tail coverts red, underparts grey with pink tinge becoming red on flanks and belly, with black vent. Female is paler, with brown vent. Juveniles resemble the female, with a darker bill. There are several geographical variants with subtle plumage differences.

Distribution and Habitat: Frequents dry grassland with thornbush or acacia scrub, the edges of woodland and sometimes cultivated areas. Feeds on (or close to) the ground, mainly on grass seeds and millet. Will also take small insects, fruit and buds and the blossoms of fruit trees (possibly to obtain pollen or nectar).

Housing: Should be kept in a controlled environment as this species is particularly sensitive to cold and to temperature changes generally.

Feeding: A standard waxbill seed mixture, with additional wild/weed seeds as basic diet. Supplement with seeding grasses whenever possible. Black-cheeked Waxbills are thought to favour aphids, ant pupae and soft mealworms when feeding young and will also utilise sprouted seed.

Breeding: Builds a relatively large nest with an entrance tube, consisting mainly of grass stems. The nest will often have a ‘cock nest’ on top, this frequently has feathers added, whereas the main nest rarely does. A clutch may be 3-6 eggs and is incubated by both sexes for 12 days. Fledging takes place at 22 days.

References: Goodwin (1982); Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Restall (1975).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 13cm, 5 inches.

Description: Male has head, breast and flanks all blue, with brown mantle, back and wings. Bright red bill. Underparts are buff, fading to white at the vent. Female is similar but with brown forehead and crown, and blue parts are paler. Juveniles resemble the female, but with less extensive blue, adult plumage is gained at about 5 months.

Distribution and Habitat: Ocurs in dry bush and scrub country of East Africa, locally abundant but rather less common than the Red-cheeked Cordon Blue. Feeds on the ground, mainly on seeds but also takes some insects such as ants and termites.

Housing: Does well in a mixed aviary, but can be aggressive towards similarly-coloured birds in the breeding season. Sensitive to the cold and should therefore be given sheltered and heated accommodation.

Feeding: A standard waxbill seed mixture, with additional wild/weed seeds as basic diet. Supplement this with seeding grasses whenever possible and live food when raising young. Goodwin states that this waxbill is particularly fond of white and panicum millets, and tends to swallow a proportion of this without shelling it.

Breeding: The Blue-capped Waxbill is among the most regularly bred in aviculture and will reliably bring up its young, given a supply of small livefood when feeding them. Will nest in standard boxes or build in vegetation, ivy for example, using grasses, coconut fibre, etc, and often lines the nest with feathers. Four to six eggs are incubated for around 11 days and fledging takes place when chicks are around 18 days.

References: Goodwin (1982); Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Restall (1975), Williams and Arlott (1989).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 10-11cm, 4-4.5 inches.

Description: Pale sandy brown with darker speckling to the head and barring to the body. Wing primaries, rump and tail feathers are black. Underparts paler, starting as pale buffish brown on chest and fading to off-white on the belly and under-tail coverts. Bill is silver-blue, sometimes with darker upper mandible. Female is much the same as the male, though the colouration of the black feathering may be less intense. The central tail feathers are said to be broader and more rounded at the tip in the female than in the male. Juvenile is similar to the adult, but with browner tint above and less distinct barring and speckling.

Distribution and Habitat: Favours dry habitat such as savannah or sparse scrubland, but is also found in cultivated areas. Usually found in flocks and generally feeds on the ground, taking mainly grass seeds.

Housing: Fits in well in a mixed aviary, though caution needs to be exercised due to a high inclination to hybridise. Gray (1958) lists species running from many of the Mannikins through to the Common and Black-rumped Waxbills as being known to have cross-bred with African Silverbills. Conversely, breeding success is likely to be impaired if kept in the company of more assertive species.

Feeding: These birds are almost entirely seed-eating, even when feeding young. Most observers suggest that live food is seldom, if ever, taken. Sprouted seed may, however, be appreciated and it has been reported (Immelman) that egg food will be utilised during breeding.

Breeding: The African SIlverbill is regularly bred in captivity and is often used for fostering purposes in the manner of the Bengalese. Will nest in standard boxes and baskets or build in vegetation, also has a propensity for the utilisation of old nests such as those of weavers. An average of five eggs are laid, incubation is around 11 days and the young fledge at around 21 days.

References: Avon, Tilford and Woodham (1982); Goodwin (1982); Restall (1996).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 11-12.5cm, 4.5-5 inches.

Description: In the nominate race L. malacca malacca (southern India and Sri Lanka) the head, throat and breast are jet black, as is the centre of the belly and the under-tail coverts.The underparts are otherwise white. The mantle, back and a large part of the wings are chestnut brown, the rump and upper tail coverts having a much more reddish tinge. The sexes are alike, though the female will often have a smaller bill. Juveniles are buff underneath and the upper parts are much lighter than the adult.The bill iis pale grey to bluish grey.

Distribution and Habitat: Will be found in reedbeds, rice fields, marshes, sugar cane fields and wet grassed areas. Where this preferred habitat does not exist other cultivated land or clearings in forests will be utilised. Will usually occur in small flocks in the breeding season, forming larger flocks at other times of the year.

Housing: The Tri-coloured Munia is generally considered not to be aggressive toward other species if kept in a mixed aviary. However there is little doubt that best breeding success will be achieved by keeping a small flock in an aviary of its own. There is a danger of hybridisation if kept with other Mannikin species.

Feeding: In the wild these mannikins feed almost entirely on seeding grasses direct from the seed head, though they will feed on the ground if circumstances dictate. Rice is a favourite when available. There appears to be no appetite for insects, even when feeding young.

Breeding: WFS records suggest that this bird has been infrequently bred in captivity. In its natural habitat, the nest is a roughly oval construction of leaves and grasses measuring 6 or 7 inches in diameter, often with a tubular entrance porch. The nest is constructed in reeds, grasses, bamboos etc, usually within 2 metres of the ground. Average clutch size is 4 or 5 and incubation is about 13 days. Youngsters fledge in approximately 3 weeks.

References: Goodwin (1982); Restall (1996); Clement, Harris and Davis (1999).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 12cm, 5 inches.

Description: On the adult male, forehead, chin and throat are red, with the rest of the head and the neck being grey. The bill is bright red and the eyes orange or reddish-brown. The back is green or olive, which carries down to the upper rump, the lower rump and upper tail coverts are red and this colour extends into the tail feathers. The wing coverts and outer webs of the flight feathers are green, the inner webs being brown. Breast is yellowish or golden with a green tint, and has spotting showing through lower down. The belly and flanks are darker green and heavily barred with white; the centre of the belly often showing more white and less green.

Females lack any red on the head, which is therefore all grey, the throat is off-white to pale grey, belly and flanks are darker grey with pale barring. This barring is less distinct than on the male. The female’s bill is dark brown, with pink to base of lower mandible. Juveniles are similar to adult female but colours are duller, including the bill. Young males will show red to the head in the first moult. There are several geographical variants which differ mainly in the amount of red on the head, different intensities of yellow hue on the breast, and in the brightness of the barring on the underparts.

Distribution and Habitat: Inhabits the drier areas of Africa, favouring thorn scrub, open woodland, savannah and the edges of cultivated areas. Feeds mainly on grass and millet seeds, but takes some insects - mainly termites.

Housing: The cock Melba Finch is usually aggressive to other males, particularly of any species showing red to the head, it is therefore advisable to keep breeding pairs in distinct compartments. Experienced keepers suggest that this is a bird requiring more heat than most, which would indicate indoor quarters being advisable for most of the year.

Feeding: In the wild this species is said to feed mainly on seeds and termites. Immelman et al (1963) suggest that birds in aviculture will thrive only if fed a wide variety of insect food throughout the year to supplement the usual foreign finch seed mixtures.

Breeding: The Melba Finch would seem to be very difficult to breed in captivity. In the wild, a dome-shaped nest of grasses and other vegetation is built close to the ground and lined with feathers. A clutch may be up to 6 eggs and incubation is 13 days, fledging takes place at 21 days. Paradise Whydahs will parasitise the nest of this species and might therefore be an interesting aviary companion, though a close watch must be kept for signs of aggression.

References: Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Goodwin (1982); Restall (1975).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 12 to 13cm,4.5 to 5 inches.

Description: Forehead, crown and nape are pale sandy brown with a hint of pink, most feathers showing black bars towards their tip, the back is similarly coloured, but with the barring becoming more v-shaped. The face and throat are creamy white, with a broad band of red across the lower throat and extending up the side of the face, behind the eyes. This band is, of course, what gives the bird its common name. The breast is creamy white, shading to fawn lower down and on the underparts. There is a chestnut patch on the belly.

The female is similar to the male, but without the red band or (in most cases) the chestnut on the belly. Juveniles are paler versions of the adult, including the red band on the male.

Distribution and Habitat: Inhabits the drier areas of Africa but is a frequent visitor to water. Favoured habitats are thorn scrub, open woodland, savannah and often cultivated areas in the proximity of villages. Will usually be seen in flocks rather than individually.

Housing: Cut-throats are known to be aggressive to other birds (even larger ones), especially in the breeding season. They will spoil the nests of other birds if kept in a mixed community, and often throw out the eggs and young. Restall states that females seem to succumb to the vagaries of the UK weather earlier and more frequently than males, and for this reason one is likely to see more males than females in aviculture. This would seem sufficient reason for playing it safe and providing good sheltered accommodation all-year round, particularly to newly-acquired birds.

Feeding: In the wild the Cut-throat feeds mainly on grass and millet seeds, with some insects - especially termites. As with most species covered by the WFS, live food is appreciated when feeding its young, although it is said to be one of the few among our species that will raise fledglings successfully on seed and eggfood. Feeding could therefore consist of the usual foreign finch seed mixture with other seeds added for variety, and certainly seeding grasses and other weeds/wild plants will be gladly accepted.

Breeding: Very undemanding in choice of nest site and will often use an old nest or, as mentioned earlier, one that it has emptied of its rightful occupants. The nest will usually be lined with feathers and if constructed from new consists of grasses and similar material. 4 to 6 eggs are laid and incubation is 12 to 14 days, fledging takes place at around 21 days.

References: Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Goodwin (1982); Restall (1975).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 10cm, 4 inches.

Description: Male and female are similar in appearance. Upper parts light brownish grey with cross barring. Deep scarlet eye stripe running narrowly under, as well as more widely above the eye. Throat and ear coverts silky white, usually tinged with pink or grey. Underparts as upper but much paler. Ventral area rosy red. Undertail coverts white, usually tinged with pink. Rump, upper tail coverts and tail black. There is a great deal of variation in the amount of red on the underparts. Bill bright red to crimson.

Housing: Generally not aggressive. When kept in an aviary a heated shelter is essential.

Distribution and Habitat: From Senegal and The Gambia east to NE Congo, Uganda, Eritrea and NW Abyssinia.

Feeding :Feeds both on the ground and from growing vegetation. Takes grass and other seeds together with midges and small insects.

In captivity will eat panicum, white millet, small canary seed and other small seeds. Seeding grasses, soaked seed, small insects or ant pupae should be provided when they are nesting.

Breeding: Nests are often built on the ground in grass or under a small bush, often with a cup-shaped cock’s nest at the side, but will nest above ground in a bush or basket. Nest is built of grass, coconut fibre or similar material and is usually lined with feathers or other soft material. Usually four or five eggs, which are incubated by both sexes. Incubation period is 11 to 12 days.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length 18-22cm, 7-8.5 inches.

Description: The cock bird is predominantly black from head to tail, except for his mantle across his shoulder, which is golden-yellow in colour. Some colouring may also show on the wing tips. The hen (shorter than the cock) is brown in colour with a lighter brown stripe across the eyes, the hen is almost indistinguishable from that of the Orange Bishop, perhaps appearing slightly larger.

Housing: The writer has found the Yellow-mantled Whydah to be a friendly bird and does not pose a threat to other birds in the aviary; although it is true to say the male will chase off intruders in his space, as will most cock birds. I have never known my cock bird to be violent to others. I would not advise that they are housed with birds smaller than themselves. My aviary is 8’ x 8’ x 7’ high (not including the air-lock). It has a concrete floor, which I cover with Dry-Bird or Easy-Bed, and I have secured a lot of conifer branches inside, not only does this provide perches it also gives them cover should they wish to hide. Although the Whydah is a hardy bird, I still cover my aviary during the winter months with insulated panels. My Whydahs can be quite tame and (as the fancy takes them) they will take mealworms from my fingers, and I have noticed that the male will always pass them to the female.

Feeding: Foreign Finch seed, insects e.g. mealworms, wax worms and crickets. Green foods such as spinach, dandelion, chickweed etc, fruit, if they will take it, soaked millet sprays and egg food.

Breeding: When displaying, the cock will stretch his neck and whilst appearing to stand on tiptoe, he ruffs his neck feathers out and shouts out a high-pitched cheee cheee. Most whydahs are polygamous and are happy with 2-6 hens; I have two hens to my one cock. They build their nests using grasses and coconut fibre; mine have started building a nest high amongst some conifer branches that I have placed in the aviary. In their natural habitat they prefer to nest near water in long grass or bamboo.

Lays between two to four eggs which are pale green with blotches of olive-brown or olive grey spots and will sit for approx fourteen days. During the breeding season it is strongly advisable to increase the feeding of live food; not only is this valuable food for the young it also encourages the adults into breeding. The male will feed the female while she is sitting on the eggs.

Thanks to Roger Bryant for supplying this text, for a fuller version see www.feathered-friends.co.uk.

Length 13cm, 5.5 inches.

Description: A member of a large family of weavers that originate from Africa. During the breeding season the cock bird is very colourful with a thick orange ruff on the back of his head, around his throat and covering his chest, while his face and abdomen are jet black and velvet in appearance. When in eclipse plumage he is indistinguishable from the hen, which resembles a hen house sparrow in colouring with a pale buff stripe just above the eye.

Housing: These birds are not suited to cage life. They will do well in a large aviary with plenty of bamboo, the leaves of which will be stripped for nest construction purposes. The writer has also used cotoneaster, privet and conifer bushes. Another good alternative to use is cut branches from conifer trees/bushes. These birds are hardy and will tolerate our British weather provided they have cover and are free from draught. I have housed them with waxbills and have not encountered any problems with this, although I do have a large aviary; in fact the waxbills make good use of discarded weaver nests! If your aviary is not very large it might be best not to house them with smaller birds.

Feeding: Live food is very important if you want them to breed. I feed mine on mealworms all year round but the supply is vastly increased during the breeding season. They will also take wax worms, spiders, crickets, small locusts and stick insects. They also enjoy a good foreign finch mix and the occasional helping of small parakeet seed. Also provided is millet sprays both dry and soaked, egg food, green foods such as chickweed, cress, lettuce (not Iceberg), broccoli florets and the stem grated, grasses, herbs etc.

Breeding: Weavers will normally construct their own nest, although there are exceptions to every rule and the writer has had one that used a wicker dome basket. I have found that they will use hay, coconut fibre, raffia and pampas grass, but they love fresh long green stems of grass. I am lucky and live near a Council owned field, that is never sprayed with pesticides and is allowed to grow wild during the summer months. The cock bird builds an oval shaped nest and when completed he will hang from the nest and put on a display for the hen, if she doesn’t like it he starts all over again and builds another… and sometimes another!

Thanks to Laura Bryant for supplying this text, for a fuller version see www.feathered-friends.co.uk.

Length: 5in (12cm).

Description: Head and back are grey. Underparts are paler grey with fine white barring. Upper tail coverts crimson, tail is crimson with some brown streaks. Wings are grey-brown with the visible parts of most coverts and the outer edges of the flight feathers being crimson, showing as a large crimson patch on the side of the resting bird. Eyes are red and the bill is black, thin and finely pointed. The female tends to be a palerversion of the male, often with less extensive red markings. Juveniles resemble the female but with a more brown appearance and the eye is brown.

Distribution and Habitat: Favours open woodland and savannah, dense grassland or bamboo thickets and is said to be more often seen in trees than most waxbills. Usually seen singly or in pairs.

Housing: An inoffensive bird not known to be aggressive to other species or its own kind and usually very steady. Has been known to do well in a planted flight with heated shelter, but it is thought that best breeding results will be obtained by maintaining a temperature around 20 degrees.

Feeding: In the wild the Red-winged Pytilia feeds mostly on the ground, taking mostly grass seeds and some small insects such as ants and termites. In captivity a good foreign finch mixture supplemented with soft food is a basic requirement and the addition of seeding grasses in season will be appreciated. Successful breeding has been achieved by supplying ant pupae and mealworms at the appropriate time.

Breeding: The nest is usually loosely constructed in a bush or small tree and will be sparsley lined with feathers . 3 to 4 eggs are laid and incubation is 12 to 13 days and carried out by both sexes, fledging takes place at around 21 days. Breeders have experimented with supplying artificial vegetation nesting sites, apparently with some success.

References: Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Goodwin (1982); Restall (1975).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 5.5-6in (13-14cm).

Description: Male : Head, face, neck, chin and throat to upper flanks deep scarlet. Mantle, back and wings black. Underparts jet black. Bill large and blue black.
Female : Head to nape bright red. Mantle and wings olive brown. Underparts olive brown. Bill as male.

Distribution and Habitat: Cameroons to S.Sudan
N. Uganda and Kenya
Zaire, E. Sierra Leone and S.E. Senegal.
Inhabits savanna, grassland and cultivated areas.

Feeding: Feeds mainly on the ground on small seeds but will take termites and other small insects. In captivity will take panicum and spray millet and other small grass seeds. Insect food seems essential for rearing young. Egg food will sometimes be taken. Some breeders consider that insect or egg food should be supplied at all times.

Breeding: Prefers to roost low down and nesting is usually low down in a clump of grass or a bush or in the thatch roof of a hut.

The male will display to the female on the ground by hopping up and down with a piece of grass in the bill with head held obliquely upward.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4.5in (11cm).

Description: Male : Similar to Red-billed Firefinch but plumper with broader looking tail and larger bill. Front of forehead carmine with the rest of the forehead, crown, nape, mantle, back and wings a dark earth brown. Under-wing coverts buff. Lower parts of rump and upper tail coverts wine red. Tail brownish black with variable amounts of red. Breast and flanks red with small white spots or bars, but there is much individual variation in these markings. Bill pink to purplish red.
Female : Like the male except that she sometimes has the red of the face and breast a little paler.

Distribution and Habitat: Senegal, Gambia, S Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria Ghana N.Cameroons,
N.Congo, S.Sudan, Part of Uganda

Inhabits grass savanna and thick cover along streams and rivers. Also often in villages. Often tame and confiding round human habitation. In captivity at first shy and timid. Generally in damper areas than those frequented by Lagonosticta senegala.

Sometimes found in small flocks of six to twenty individuals.

Feeding: Feeds largely on the ground on small seeds.
Feeding requirements in captivity similar to those of the Red-billed Firefinch.

Breeding: Hybids between this species and the Red-billed Firefinch are fertile.
Nests in the wild are often in tall grass quite near the ground.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4in (9-10cm).

Description: Male : Top of head, mantle and back a slightly reddish light earth brown strongly washed with red, carmine or scarlet. Red is most extensive on forehead and hind neck. Wings brown with a varying amount of red. Rump and all but the outermost tail feathers rose red. Sides of the breast spotted with small white spots to varying degrees. Iris brown and eye rims yellow and conspicuous. Bill red or pink.
Female : Buffish brown with red stripe from base of lower mandible to, and sometimes over, the eye. White spots on the breast larger and usually more profuse than on the male.
Juvenile : Like the female but with no red on the face and no white spots and an entirely black bill.

The mainly red bill distinguishes it from the other firefinches.

Distribution and Habitat: Tropical and Southern sub-tropical Africa.
Widely distributed but absent from some tropical forest and desert areas.

In the wild very tame and usually in pairs or small parties. Lives in Acacia woodland or in cultivated areas and villages around human dwellings.

Feeding: Feeds mainly on the ground on grass and other small seeds. Will take small insects but in the wild will rear young almost entirely on green seeds. Dry seed alone is not adequate unless some insect food is also available.

Breeding: Will nest in a variety of sites, in a hole in a building or bank, even on the ground and especially in thatched roofs of huts. Uses feathers, preferably white, to line the nest. Usually only the male builds the nest. Both sexes brood and the incubation period is 11 to 12 days with young fledging at 18 days. They are fed by the parents for a further 8 to 10 days.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4.5in (10-11.5cm).

Description: Dark grey crown and nape. Mantle, back and wing coverts olive brown. Rump and upper tail coverts wine red. Centre of belly sooty grey.
Bill upper mandible dark grey or black, lower mandible black at tip and pink at base.
Female: Upper parts a paler shade of brown, the top of the head may be brown or more grey than that of the male. Rump, tail, breast and flanks paler than the male. Breast buff and ventral area blackish brown.

Differs from Bar-breasted (Lagonosticta rufopicta) by lack of white barring on the sides of the breast and mainly dark (not red) bill.

Differs from Black-bellied (Lagonosticta rara) by brown or grey brown mantle and back (not red). Black-bellied female has a grey head and face and both sexes have a much greater extent of black on the underparts.

Distribution and Habitat: Western, eastern, central and southern Africa.

Inhabits edges of forest and savanna woodland, thick cover along streams, densely grown valleys in hill country. Apparently needs a combination of fairly low cover and grass, Not found in open grassland.

Feeding: Feeds largely on grass seeds. Also takes termites and other small insects.

In captivity some breeders consider that live or egg food is necessary at all times but Goodwin reports that his birds showed little interest unless they were rearing young. He also reports that his birds, although timid at first, soon became tame and were very inquisitive and found their way round quickly.

Breeding: Nest in bushes or shrubs and sometimes at ground level, usually lined with feathers. Incubation period about 11 days. Fledge at approximately 15 days old.
Birds will perform a greeting display by bowing alternately with twitching tails. In the courtship display the male will bob up and down with a feather or piece of grass in the beak, throwing his head back.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4.75-5in (12-13cm).

Description: Male - Forehead to crown deep grey, mantle and back reddish brown. Face, breast and neck deep crimson. Underparts black, boldly spotted with white on sides. Bill greyish blue and legs are slate grey.

Female is paler with buffish grey on the head. Throat and breast buff.

Distribution and Habitat: Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zaire, Kenya and Tanzania.

Inhabits lowland bush or grassland, evergreen thickets, acacia scrub at edges of secondary forest near streams. Occasionally close to human habitation.

Feeding: Feeds on a variety of seeds and occasionally small insects.

In captivity readily takes panicum and other millets, canary seed and half ripe grass seeds. Probably needs live food to rear young.

Breeding: Often prefers to nest on the ground among cover.

Incubation period 12-13 days (sometimes longer) and young fledge at about 21 days.

It has been reported that in the wild they may indulge in a communal display with males hopping round displaying to each other and the hens watching.

In captivity, pairs in breeding condition are often aggressive not only towards conspecifics but also towards related or similarly coloured species.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4-4.5in (10-11cm).

Description: Male is red or deep orange-red around the eye, with head and back a deep moss or olive green. Breast, belly and flanks dark grey to black, boldly spotted with white. Bill fairly short, slender and pointed, all black or with red at tip. Legs and feet pinkish brown.

Female is similar to male but somewhat duller and lacks the bright red face. Face buff or fawn brown. Breast, belly and flanks rather greyer than the male and spots are less distinct.

Juvenile is similar to the female but much duller and lacking the spots on the underparts. Young males show tinges of green on the breast and spots appear gradually in an erratic or random fashion.

The above description is of the nominate race, M.nitidula nitidula. M.n. chubbi is brighter in colour. M.n.schlegeli has a larger bill. Face is deep scarlet and breast deep red to golden orange.

Distribution and Habitat:

M. nitidula nitidula - Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Natal and N.E. Cape Province.

M. nitidula schlegeli - Sierra Leone, S. Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Zaire and Angola.

M. nitidula chubbi - Sudan, S. Ethiopia, Kenya, N. Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Inhabits dense riverine or secondary forest, edges of forest. Tall or rank grassland, evergreen thickets and other dense undergrowth. Occasionally in open ground but always near cover.

Feeding: Feeds on a variety of small seeds and insects but has been known to take rice.

In captivity they need a plentiful supply of insect food as well as dry and soaked seed.

Breeding: Incubation period 12 – 13 days. Fledging at about 21 days.

Both adults and young make a snapping sound when in the nest if they feel threatened.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4.75in (12cm).

Description: Male has entire head, nape, chin and breast slate-grey. Mantle, back and upper tail are crimson. Lower breast is dark slate-grey and flanks and under tail black with bold white spots on flanks. Bill is black, eyes are red with a pale blue eye ring.

Female is slightly smaller than the male and is paler grey on the head and breast. Red of mantle is duller. Eyes are reddish brown with pale grey eye ring. Wings are blackish brown.

Juveniles are similar to female but lack white spots. Adult plumage is attained within three months.

Distribution and Habitat: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Zaire and Southern Sudan.

Found in grassy savanna, in grass clumps near rivers, along the edges of forest and sometimes in cultivated areas.

Feeding: Feeds on the ground, mainly on grass seeds but also small insects sometimes by digging in soft ground.

Breeding: In captivity will often nest on the ground, building their own nest on a heap of materials. The nest is built with grass fibres or similar material on a base of coarser material and lined with feathers.

Usually 4 - 6 eggs. Both sexes incubate and brood and young are brooded for anything from 7 to 14 days.

They are territorial and adult males will fight each other and attack juveniles as soon as they show adult plumage.

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

Length: 4.5in (11.5cm).

Description: The head is white, upper breast, back and wings are reddish brown. The eyes are brown, the beak is a silver blue and the legs are dark grey. It is difficult to distinguish between the sexes. The male’s head is sometimes a brighter white usually after the second moult, also the male’s beak is larger than the females. Juvenile’s back and wings are a lighter brown and the breast and under parts are a beige shade.

Distribution and Habitat: The White-headed Nun originates from southern Thailand, Malay Peninsula and Indonesian Islands. They are found in open grassland and rice fields, sometimes in enormous flocks to feed and roost.

Housing: The White-headed Nun is not aggressive toward other species if kept in a mixed aviary. Breeding success can be achieved by keeping a small flock in an outside aviary dependant on size. There is a danger of hybridisation if kept with other mannikin species.

Feeding: In the wild these mannikins feed almost entirely on seeding grasses direct from the seed head. These birds don’t require live food to raise their young. In captivity they take eggfood sparingly but soaked and sprouting seed is recommended.

Breeding: WFS records suggest that this bird has not been bred consistently in good numbers in captivity. In its natural habitat, the nest is more round than oval, constructed of blades of grass, bamboo and other large leaves in clumps of grass and bamboo. They also use abandoned weaver nests adapting the entrance to suit.

It is recommended