Granatina granatina
The Violet-eared Waxbill (*Granatina granatina*) is a jewel-like passerine bird, renowned for its striking plumage and delicate form. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm in length and weighing a mere 12-14 grams, this small finch is a vibrant splash of color in the arid landscapes of southern Africa. Males are particularly stunning, displaying a rich purplish-blue body, chestnut-brown wings, and unmistakable bright violet-blue cheek patches that give the species its common name, all complemented...
This species thrives in arid and semi-arid savannas, thornbush scrub, and acacia woodlands, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small grass seeds, supplemented with a variety of insects (termites, ants, small beetles) particularly during the breeding season.
Violet-eared Waxbills are diurnal birds, actively foraging during the day and roosting communally in dense bushes or thorny trees at night. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning small grass seeds from the ground, though they adeptly pluck seeds directly from grass heads and suppleme...
The Violet-eared Waxbill is a resident species, widely distributed across the dry savannas and thornbush regions of southern Africa. Its primary range extends from southern Angola and Namibia eastward through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and into southern Zambia, southern Malawi, and western Mozambique. I...
Least Concern
- Their common name comes from the striking violet-blue patches on the males' cheeks, which resemble 'ears'. - Despite their small size, males perform an intricate courtship dance involving bowing and holding a grass stem to attract females. - They are part of the Estrildidae family, often called...