Euodice malabarica
The Indian Silverbill, *Euodice malabarica*, is a charming and highly social estrildid finch, measuring approximately 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length with a wingspan of roughly 15-17 cm and weighing 8-12 grams. Its most distinctive field mark is its stout, conical, silvery-grey bill, contrasting with its otherwise subdued plumage of sandy-brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and a conspicuous dark rump and tail. Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Estrildidae, closely related to othe...
This adaptable finch thrives in arid and semi-arid scrublands, open grasslands, cultivated areas, gardens, and urban parks, typically found from lowlands up to about 1500 meters in elevation.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of small grass seeds and grains, which they glean from the ground or pluck directly from plant stalks, occasionally supplementing with small insects.
Indian Silverbills are diurnal and highly gregarious, often forming large flocks outside the breeding season, which can number in the hundreds as they move between feeding grounds and communal roosts in dense vegetation. Foraging primarily on the ground or by clinging to seed heads, they employ a...
The Indian Silverbill is a widespread resident across the Indian subcontinent, encompassing India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Its distribution extends eastward into parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar. This species is largely non-migratory, exhibiting only local movements ...
Least Concern
- Indian Silverbills are one of the most common finches across the Indian subcontinent and are incredibly adaptable to human-modified habitats. - They are often confused with the African Silverbill (*Euodice cantans*), their close relative, but are differentiated by subtle plumage nuances and geo...