Animalia Life

Estrilda astrild
SUBFAMILY
Estrildinae
TAXONOMY
Loxia astrild Linnaeus, 1758.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: St. Helena waxbill, barred waxbill, brown waxbill, pheasant finch; French: Astrild ondulй; German: Wellenastrild; Spanish: Astrilda Comъn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
4.3–5.1 in (11–13 cm). Sexes are alike. Juveniles are paler than adults and have fainter barring.
DISTRIBUTION
Found naturally in southern Senegal, east to Ethiopia, south to South Africa, essentially throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. Has been introduced in Brazil, Portugal, and many islands throughout the world including Hawaii, Tahiti, the Seychelles, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico.
HABITAT
Prefers areas with tall grass including marsh, reed beds, abandoned cultivated areas, gardens, grassy clearings or paths, and farms or plantations.
BEHAVIOR
Being highly gregarious, this species is found in small flocks during the breeding season and larger flocks when not breeding. Calls include a “chip,” “tchic,” and “pit” while the song is described as a “tcher-tcher-preee,” although it can be highly variable.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds mainly on a diversity of seeds taken both from growing plants and off the ground. Swarming termites as well as other insects make up a small portion of the diet.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Builds a pear-shaped nest of grass stems at or near the ground. Four to six white eggs are incubated for 11–12 days. This species is the brood host for the pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura).
CONSERVATION STATUS
CITES: Appendix III. Not threatened according to IUCN criteria
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Commonly kept in captivity, this species has been bred in aviaries and cages and is readily offered for beginning aviculturists.

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