Photo: Liam Wolff (Ospr3yy at en.wikipedia) / FAL (Wikimedia Commons)
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Estrilda melpoda
Orange-cheeked Waxbill (Estrilda melpoda) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill (Estrilda melpoda) 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 melpoda
Where it lives
Southern Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to southern Chad, Central African Republic, southeastern Sudan and Ethiopia, Gabon, northern Angola, and DR Congo, western Burundi and northern Zambia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Orange-cheeked 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-cheeked Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill (Estrilda melpoda) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to s Chad, Central African Republic, se Sudan and Ethiopia, Gabon, n Angola, and DR Congo, w Burundi and n Zambia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.6 g, with a wing length of about 4.6 cm and a tail of around 4.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Orange-cheeked Waxbill?
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 7.6 g.
Where does the Orange-cheeked Waxbill live?
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to s Chad, Central African Republic, se Sudan and Ethiopia, Gabon, n Angola, and DR Congo, w Burundi and n Zambia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Orange-cheeked Waxbill belong to?
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill (Estrilda melpoda) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Orange-cheeked Waxbill eat?
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Orange-cheeked Waxbill migrate?
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Orange-cheeked 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-cheeked Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Orange-cheeked 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-cheeked Waxbill's range?
The Orange-cheeked Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 3.7 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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