Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lavender Waxbill
Glaucestrilda caerulescens
Lavender Waxbill (Glaucestrilda caerulescens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lavender Waxbill (Glaucestrilda caerulescens) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.4 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Glaucestrilda
- Species caerulescens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lavender 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 Lavender Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lavender Waxbill (Glaucestrilda caerulescens) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Guinea and e to n Central African Republic.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.4 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 4.3 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lavender Waxbill?
The Lavender Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 9.4 g.
Where does the Lavender Waxbill live?
The Lavender Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Guinea and e to n Central African Republic, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Lavender Waxbill belong to?
The Lavender Waxbill (Glaucestrilda caerulescens) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Lavender Waxbill eat?
The Lavender Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Lavender Waxbill migrate?
The Lavender Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Lavender Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Lavender Waxbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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