Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Violet-eared Waxbill
Granatina granatina
Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 11.8 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 Granatina
- Species granatina
Where it lives
Southern Angola and central Namibia to southwestern Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and northern, northeastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Violet-eared Waxbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Violet-eared Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Angola and c Namibia to sw Zambia, Zimbabwe, s Mozambique and n, ne South Africa.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 6.5 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 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Violet-eared Waxbill?
The Violet-eared Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 11.8 g.
Where does the Violet-eared Waxbill live?
The Violet-eared Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Angola and c Namibia to sw Zambia, Zimbabwe, s Mozambique and n, ne South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Violet-eared Waxbill belong to?
The Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Violet-eared Waxbill eat?
The Violet-eared Waxbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Violet-eared Waxbill migrate?
The Violet-eared Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Violet-eared 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 Violet-eared Waxbill make?
1 real field recording of the Violet-eared Waxbill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Violet-eared Waxbill's range?
The Violet-eared Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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.
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