Disambiguation: the name Black-faced Waxbill is sometimes also used for the species Estrilda nigriloris.
Alternative name: Black-cheeked Waxbill
- Brunhilda erythronotos
Estrilda erythronotos
Identification
Small (11-12 cm) with black face and red rump, flanks and upper belly. Tail is black and wings are barred black and grey-buff.
Similar Species
East African race differs from very similar Red-rumped Waxbill by black chin, central belly and undertail.
Distribution
Africa:
Western Africa: Angola
Eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Subspecies:1
- B. e. erythronotos
- B. e. delamerei
Habitat
Acacia thornveld.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes grass seeds and insects.
Breeding
The enclosed nests are built from grass stalks and seed heads, and are placed in trees. The clutch consists of 3-4 eggs.
The nests may be parasitised by Pin-tailed Whydah.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Fry H, Keith S, Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319
- Avibase
- BirdForum Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Black-faced Waxbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-faced_Waxbill
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
