Uraeginthus angolensis
The Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis), also commonly known as the Southern Blue Waxbill or Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu, is a small, striking passerine bird belonging to the Estrildidae family, which includes the estrildid finches. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length and weighing 7-12 grams, this species is instantly recognizable by its vivid blue plumage covering the face, throat, rump, and tail. Its back is a warm rufous-brown, contrasting with pale fawn underparts,...
Found in a variety of open habitats including savanna, scrubland, open woodlands, cultivated fields, and suburban gardens, often near water sources. It thrives from sea level up to moderate elevations.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small grass seeds collected from the ground or directly from seed heads. It supplements its diet with small insects, such as termites and aphids, and occasionally nectar.
Blue Waxbills are diurnal and highly gregarious, often roosting communally in dense thickets at night, sometimes alongside other small finches. Foraging primarily involves gleaning small seeds from the ground or plucking them directly from grass heads, often moving in small, active flocks. During...
The Blue Waxbill boasts a wide and stable distribution across central and southern Africa, primarily as a resident, non-migratory species. Its breeding range spans from Angola and southern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, extending eastward through southern Tanzania, Zambia, and Malawi....
Least Concern
- The vibrant blue plumage of the Blue Waxbill is due to structural coloration, not pigments, where the microscopic structure of their feathers reflects specific wavelengths of light. - In some regions, they are known by the charming name "Cordon-bleu," referencing the prestigious blue ribbon of ...