Estrilda troglodytes
The Black-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes) is a diminutive and engaging passerine belonging to the Estrildidae family, averaging a slender 10 cm in length and weighing 7-10 grams. Its subtle charm is characterized by a pale pinkish bill, a grey head, and distinctive white cheeks that contrast with its light brown upperparts and finely barred flanks. A key identification mark is its bright red flank patch, often partially concealed, juxtaposed with a striking black rump. While generally u...
Primarily inhabiting dry savannas, open grasslands, cultivated fields, and bush country, often in close proximity to water sources, at elevations typically below 1,800 meters.
Feeds primarily on small grass seeds and millet, supplemented seasonally with small insects like termites and ants. Forages mainly by gleaning from the ground or plucking seeds directly from grass heads.
The Black-rumped Waxbill is a highly gregarious and diurnal species, typically seen in flocks ranging from a few individuals to several dozens, often mixing with other small finches. Foraging occurs predominantly on the ground, where they meticulously glean small grass seeds, sometimes augmented ...
The Black-rumped Waxbill boasts an extensive native range across the Sahel region of Africa, stretching from Senegal in the west, eastward through Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan, to Ethiopia and Eritrea. Its distribution also extends southwards into parts of Uganda, Kenya, and northern Tanzania, of...
Least Concern
- The Black-rumped Waxbill is one of the smallest waxbill species, weighing less than a European Robin. - Despite its common name, the prominent red marking is on its flanks, not its rump, which is distinctly black. - It is a highly social bird, often seen in flocks of 50 or more individuals, som...