Photo: Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue Waxbill
Uraeginthus angolensis
Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.9 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 Uraeginthus
- Species angolensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.9 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Blue Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.9 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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 3.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue Waxbill?
The Blue Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 9.9 g.
Where does the Blue Waxbill live?
The Blue Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Blue Waxbill belong to?
The Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Blue Waxbill eat?
The Blue Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Blue Waxbill migrate?
The Blue Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue 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 Blue Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Blue 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 Blue Waxbill's range?
The Blue Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 3.5 million km².
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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