Photo: Derek Keats / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Swee Waxbill
Coccopygia melanotis
Swee Waxbill (Coccopygia melanotis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Swee Waxbill (Coccopygia melanotis) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 6.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Coccopygia
- Species melanotis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Swee Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Swee Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Swee Waxbill (Coccopygia melanotis) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sc Zimbabwe and sw Mozambique to s South Africa.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.5 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 3.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 286,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Swee Waxbill?
The Swee Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 6.5 g.
Where does the Swee Waxbill live?
The Swee Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF sc Zimbabwe and sw Mozambique to s South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Swee Waxbill belong to?
The Swee Waxbill (Coccopygia melanotis) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Swee Waxbill eat?
The Swee Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Swee Waxbill migrate?
The Swee Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Swee Waxbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Swee Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Swee Waxbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Swee Waxbill's range?
The Swee Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 286,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Estrildidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.