Estrilda nigriloris
The Black-lored Waxbill, *Estrilda nigriloris*, is a diminutive passerine, typically measuring around 10 cm in length and weighing between 7 and 10 grams. This charming member of the Estrildidae family is distinguished by its understated elegance, featuring brownish-grey upperparts contrasting with paler underparts, and crucially, a striking black patch between its eye and bill, known as the lores. Its pale yellowish or pinkish bill is another key identification mark, complemented by dull ruf...
This species favors a mosaic of tall grasslands, cultivation, marsh edges, and secondary growth, often found in close proximity to water sources. It typically inhabits elevations from lowlands up to approximately 1,800 meters within its restricted African range.
The Black-lored Waxbill feeds predominantly on small grass seeds, which it gleans from the ground or extracts directly from seed heads. During the breeding season, its diet is supplemented with small insects, likely to provide additional protein for growing chicks.
The Black-lored Waxbill is a highly social and diurnal species, typically found foraging in small to large flocks outside the breeding season, often mingling with other waxbill species. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning small grass seeds from the ground or directly from drying seed ...
The Black-lored Waxbill is endemic to East-Central Africa, with its distribution primarily centered around the Albertine Rift Valley. Its core range includes the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern and western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and extends into western Tanzania. This species is ...
Least Concern
- The Black-lored Waxbill is one of several 'red-rumped' waxbills, though its rump is more accurately described as dull rufous or chestnut. - Despite its relatively stable population, it has a rather restricted geographic range, primarily confined to specific areas of the Albertine Rift Valley. -...