Glaucestrilda perreini
The Grey Waxbill (Glaucestrilda perreini) is a charmingly petite estrildid finch, typically measuring 10-11 cm in length and weighing a mere 7-10 grams. Its plumage is subtly elegant, featuring an ash-grey head and upperparts, a distinguishing blackish mask across the lores, and a vibrant crimson-red rump and upper tail coverts that contrast beautifully with its black tail. The underparts are a paler grey, often fading to whitish on the belly, and it sports a striking bright red bill. Males a...
This species primarily inhabits forest edges, secondary growth, riverine woodlands, and thickets, often in close proximity to water sources, at elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 1800 meters.
The Grey Waxbill's diet consists predominantly of small grass seeds, which it gleans from the ground and directly from grass heads, supplemented by small insects like termites, particularly when feeding young.
The Grey Waxbill is a diurnal species, typically observed foraging on the ground or within low-lying vegetation. They are often found in pairs or small family groups, though they may occasionally join larger, mixed-species flocks. Foraging involves meticulously gleaning small grass seeds from the...
The Grey Waxbill is resident across a significant portion of sub-Saharan Africa, primarily inhabiting Central and Southern regions. Its distribution spans from Angola eastward through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania. A distinct southern subspecies, Glaucestrilda per...
Least Concern
- Despite its "grey" name, its most striking feature is a vivid crimson-red rump, a crucial field mark differentiating it from similar species. - Like many estrildid finches, Grey Waxbills have a subtle, complex courtship dance involving bowing and twitching, often accompanied by soft songs. - Th...