Orange-breasted Waxbill
Amandava subflava
Reedbeds. Yellow below with barred flanks; male with red mask, breast-patch and vent; above grey-brown.
Finches, Mannikins, Twinspots, Waxbills
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. The male’s orange breast is variable, sometimes absent. Both sexes recognised by barring on yellowish background, orange undertail, red rump and red bill and face mask. Immature like female but has black bill. Call is a quiet, metallic tinkling often made in flight. Pairs and small flocks occur in waterside grass and reeds, especially in vleis and other marshy regions plus cultivated fields. Very active, mobile little birds that make off in straggling sequence at low height, then suddenly drop down again. A secondary host to the parasitic [Pin-tailed Whydah].
Quick Facts
Size
8.5-9 cm - S
Names
A: Rooiassie
Z: isabhonsi
Ss: Borane-Mpatshehla
G: Goldbrüstchen
Bird Family
Small, conical-billed, ground- or grass-feeding seed-eaters, although some will also eat insects. They usually have colourful plumage, although females are usually more drab than males. They generally occur in pairs, or are gregarious when not breeding.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Pairs and small 'flocks' occur in waterside grass and reeds, especially in vleis and other marshy regions plus cultivated fields.
