Photo: Internet Archive Book Images / No restrictions (Wikimedia Commons)
Fawn-breasted Waxbill
Estrilda paludicola
Fawn-breasted Waxbill (Estrilda paludicola) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill (Estrilda paludicola) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7.6 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 Estrilda
- Species paludicola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill (Estrilda paludicola) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, ec.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.6 g, with a wing length of about 4.7 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fawn-breasted Waxbill?
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 7.6 g.
Where does the Fawn-breasted Waxbill live?
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, ec, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Fawn-breasted Waxbill belong to?
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill (Estrilda paludicola) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fawn-breasted Waxbill eat?
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Fawn-breasted Waxbill migrate?
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Fawn-breasted 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 Fawn-breasted Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Fawn-breasted 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 Fawn-breasted Waxbill's range?
The Fawn-breasted Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 2 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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