Return to My birds

Purple Grenadier

DE: Veilchenastrild, NL: Purpergranaatastrilde, FR: Cordonbleu violacé, ES: Granadero Morado,
IT: Garantino purpureo, PT: Granadeiro purpura, DK: Violbuget Granatastrild,
SW: Violbukad granatastrild,  NO: Purpurastrild, FI: Kobolttipeippo, PL: Motylik niebieskobrzuchy,
CZ: Motýlek modrobrichý, HU: Bíbormellű pillangópinty, TR: Mor mumgaga

Granatina ianthinogaster

No subspecies

(The older scientific name is Uraeginthus ianthinogaster)

Origin: Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Keyia, Tanzania

Length: 14 cm, (7 cm of this length is tail)

Purple Grenadier (male)

Purple Grenadier (male)

Purple Grenadier (female)

Purple Grenadier (female)

Food: Seeds of grasses and of various other plants, supplemented by termites and other insects. During the first few days in particular they feed their young with termites. They also occur near settlements and eat whatever is available.

They are no colony birds, definitely not. They live in pairs or alone. The juveniles hang together until they have their adult colours (after about 3 months), at which time they will disperse and start looking for a partner.

Female on eggs

Purple Grenadier – Female on eggs

Female feeding young

Purple Grenadier – Female feeding young

Male feeding young ones

Purple Grenadier – Male feeding young ones

Jongen in first mould

Purple Grenadiers – Young ones in first mould

Parents with 4 young ones, 21 days old

Purple Grenadiers – Parents with 4 young ones, 21 days old