Photo: Johan Spaedtke aka Spade / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Orange-breasted Waxbill
Amandava subflava
Orange-breasted Waxbill (Amandava subflava) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Orange-breasted Waxbill (Amandava subflava) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 7.4 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 Amandava
- Species subflava
Where it lives
Western, central, eastern, southern AF, southwestern Arabian Pen.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Orange-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 Orange-breasted Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Orange-breasted Waxbill (Amandava subflava) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL w, c, e, s AF, sw Arabian Pen.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.4 g, with a wing length of about 4.3 cm and a tail of around 3.4 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 3.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Orange-breasted Waxbill?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 7.4 g.
Where does the Orange-breasted Waxbill live?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL w, c, e, s AF, sw Arabian Pen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Orange-breasted Waxbill belong to?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill (Amandava subflava) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Orange-breasted Waxbill eat?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Orange-breasted Waxbill migrate?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Orange-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 Orange-breasted Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Orange-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 Orange-breasted Waxbill's range?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 3.4 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.
Explore more birds
More in Estrildidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.