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On this page you will find pictures and information about the estrildid finches Estrildidae that I have kept and bred in my birdhouse
at one time ore another. Most of the pictures were made in my birdhouse. New information on these birds will appear on this page from time to time, as it becomes
avaiable. For a better orientation you will find, in addition to the scientific names of the birds, the English (GB), German (D), French (F), Spanish (E), Danish (DK), Czech (CZ) and Dutch (NL) names. More information about these birds and hundreds of other estrildid finches, like African waxbills, oriental and Australian finches, parrotfinches, munias and mannikins, will be found in my book with the title: For more information on keeping and breeding see my book: See the page Publications. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here together a group of juveniles, all parent reared. The species seen are: Vinaceous Firefinches, Peter's Twinspots, Rosy Twinspots and Purple Grenadiers.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigrita bicolor GB: Chestnut-breasted Negro-finch, D: Zweifarbenschwarzling, F: Nigrette à ventre roux, E: Pinzón Negro de Pecho Castaño, DK: Brunbrystet Skovastrild, CZ: Cernoušek hnedoprsý, NL: Bruinborstastrilde Subspecies: Nigrita bicolor bicolor en Nigrita b. brunnescens. Origin: Guinee, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivoorkust, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Z. Nigeria, Kameroen, Gabon, N. Angola, Centraal-Afrika, Congo, Dem. Repl. Congo (Zaïre), Oeganda, Rwanda en Burundi. Length: 11-12 cm. (4.4-4.8 in) 
Food: Nigritas are the only members of the African family Estrildidae that eat no seeds, or hardly any. They feed on all kinds of insects, including caterpillars, small insects, and eggs of the tree frog, which they find in the calyx of bromeliads. Furthermore, they may eat specific fruits, often eating palm fruits, which are rich in vegetal oils and carotene. Social behaviour: A solitary bird. Only when searching for food will it, though not very often, associate with others of its own species, sometimes also with other negro-finches. Not until the breeding season approaches do they form pairs. When they are grown up, the young have to look for a territory of their own. I had three couples for some years, each in a large breeding cage, male and female usually being separated from each other by a plastic partition. It was evident that the females determine the territory, for outside the breeding period the males were chased away in all cases. The little picture shows a nest that the former pair has made in a plastic box. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uraeginthus bengalus GB: Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, D: Schmetterlingsfink, F: Cordonbleu à joues rouges, E: Cordón Azul de Mejillas, DK: Sommerfuglefinke, CZ: Motýlek rudouchý, NL: Blauwborstastrilde (Blauwfazantje) Subspecies: Uraeginthus bengalus bengalus, Uraeginthus b. brunneigularis, Uraeginthus b. katangae, Uraeginthus b. littoralis, Uraeginthus b. ugogoensis. Origin: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Mali, Ghana, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Centr. Afr. Rep., Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, De. Rep. Congo (Zaire), Zambia. Length: 12 cm (4.8 in) 
Food: Grass seeds are their staple diet, but they also eat millet and other seeds; sometimes also ripe fruits. Insects, usually termites, complete the menu, especially in the dry season when there is not much else to be found. They often search for food in villages and on fields. Social behaviour: These birds usually fly rather low, from bush to bush. They normally move about in pairs or in family groups, sometimes in larger groups. In nature, the young birds stay with their parents until the next breeding season, forming a small colony. In captivity they can very well be kept together with other estrildid finches. It is unadvisable to place more than one couple in a breeding cage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uraeginthus angolensis GB: Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu, D: Angola-Schmetterlingsfink, F: Cordonbleu de l'Angola, E: Cordón Azul Común, DK: Angolasommerfuglefinke, CZ: motýlek angolský, NL: Angola blauwborstastrilde (Angola blauwfazantje) Subspecies: Uraeginthus angolensis angolensis , Uraeginthus a. cyanopleuris, Uraeginthus a. natalensis, Uraeginthus a. niasensis. Origin: Angola, Zambia, Dem. Rep. Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique. Length: 12 cm (4.8 in) 
Food: Grass seeds are their staple diet. However, they are not choosy and also eat millet and other seeds. Sometimes they also eat ripe fruits. Insects, usually termites¸ complete the menu, especially in the dry season when there is very little else to find. They often even venture into village centres, scratching around for edibles. Social behaviour: They usually fly rather low, from shrub to shrub, often in pairs or in a family group, sometimes in larger flocks. In nature, the young birds stay with their parents and form a colony that remains intact until the next breeding season. In captivity, outside the breeding season, one can very well keep them together with other estrildid finches. It is unadvisable, though, to place more than one couple in a breeding cage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uraeginthus cyanocephalus GB: Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, D: Blaukopfschmetterlingsfink, F: Cordonbleu cyanocéphale, E: Cordón Azul de Capa Azul, DK: Blåhovedet Sommerfuglefinke, CZ: Motýlek modrohlavý, NL: Blauwkopastrilde (Blauwkopblauwfazantje) Subspecies: None. Origin: Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania. Length: 13-14 cm (5.2-5.6 in) 
Food: For this species too, grass seeds form the main ingredient on the menu. However, they are not choosy and also eat millet and other seeds. They are often seen in the middle of the villages, scratching for food. Sometimes they eat ripe fruits, and from time to time they also catch insects, mostly termites. Social behaviour:These birds are shyer than others of its species. They usually fly rather low, from bush to bush, often in pairs or as families. In nature the young birds stay with their parents and form a colony that often stays intact until the next breeding season. In captivity they may be kept together with other estrildid finches in an aviary. It is recommended not to place more than one couple in a breeding cage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Granatina granatina (old: Uraeginthus granatina) GB: Violet-eared Waxbill, D: Granatastrild, F: Cordonbleu grenadin, E: Granadero Común, DK: Granatastrild, CZ: Motýlek granátový, NL: Granaatastrilde Subspecies: Granatina granatina granatina, Granatina g. retusus and Granatina g. siccatus. Origin: S Angola, W Zambia, NE Botswana, N South Africa. Length: 14-15 cm. (5.6-6.0 in) 
Food: Seeds of grasses and of various other plants, supplemented by termites, which are in abundance here. Sometimes they eat fruits. The young initially are fed with lots of insects. Social behaviour: This species are no colony birds, definitely not. They always live in pairs. The juveniles hang together until they have their adult colouring (after about 3 months), after which they disperse, or even start looking already for a partner for the next breeding season. My favourite waxbill. This bird is very intelligent, in my opinion. I have reared a lot of them in the past. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Granatina ianthinogaster (old: Uraeginthus ianthinogaster) GB: Purple Grenadier, D: Veilchenastrild, F: Cordonbleu violacé, E: Granadero Morado, DK: Violbuget Granatastrild, CZ: Motýlek modrobrichý, NL: Purpergranaatastrilde Subspecies: none. Origin: Somalia, E and S Ethiopia, W Uganda, Kenya, N and C Tanzania. Length: 14 cm. (5.5 in) 
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. Social behaviour: 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. A beautiful finch, of which I always have some in my birdhouse. In the past I had various parent reared juveniles. Pictures made in my birdhouse. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypargos margaritatus GB: Rosy Twinspot, D: Perlastrild, F: Sénégali de Verreaux, E: Pinzón Dos Puntos Rosado, DK: Perleastrild, CZ: Vlockovník perlickový, NL: Roze druppelastrilde (Parelastrilde) Subspecies: none. Origin: S Mozambique, E Zimbabwe, E South Africa Length: 12 cm. (4.8 in) 
Food: Seeds of grass, small seeds of other plants, and insects are on the daily menu. Especially when they have young, they consume plenty of insects. Social behaviour: Very shy birds. At the slightest sign of danger they slip away into the greenery or take any other kind of cover, just to be out of sight. They live in pairs, also sometimes with their young until these are fully independent and go their own way. They always stay near the undergrowth, vanishing as soon as they sense trouble stirring. This is a very nice bird to keep in your birdroom. I've reared a lot of them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypargos niveoguttatus GB: Peter’s Twinspot, D: Roter Tropfenastrild, F: Sénégali enflammé, E: Pinzón Dos Puntos de Peter, DK: Rød Dråbeastrild, CZ: Vlockovník cervený, NL: Rode druppelastrilde Subspecies: Hypargos niveoguttatus niveoguttatus, Hypargos n. centralis, Hypargos n. idius, Hypargos n. interior and Hypargos n.macrospilotus. Origin: Kenya,Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, SW Dem. Repl. Congo (Zaïre), Zambia, Angola. Length: 12-13 cm. (4.8-5.2 in) 
Food: Seeds of grass, small seeds of other plants and insects are their daily food. Especially when they have young they require plenty of insects. Social behaviour: Rather shy birds, but in some regions they are accustomed to humans and reasonably tame. They live in pairs and sometimes together with their young until adulthood, when the juveniles go their own way. They are typical territory birds that do not tolerate birds of the same kind near them during the mating and breeding periods. Very nice Twinspots, but do not put them together with members of the same species or other Twinspots in the same cage or aviary. Three pairs are breeding at this time. The picture shows from left to right: two young Peter's Twinspots, three Rosy Twinspots and a female Peter's. All of these juveniles were reared by Peter's Twintspots. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mandingoa nitidula schlegeli GB: West African Green Twinspot, D: Schlegelgrüne Tropfenastrild, F: Sénégali vert Schlegeli, E: Pinzón Dos Puntos de Lomo Verde Schlegeli, DK: Grøn Dråbeastrild Schlegeli, CZ: Vlockovník zelenohrbetý Schlegeli, NL: Schlegelgroene druppelastrilde Subspecies: The West African Twinspot is a subspecies of Mandingoa nitidula. Origin: Sierra Leone, Liberia, S Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Dem. Rep. Congo (Zaire), N Angola, Uganda, N Tanzania. Length: 10.5 cm. (4.2 in) 
Food: Small seeds, especially grass seeds, constitute the staple food. Additionally they eat some insects. During the breeding season in particular, insects are indispensable for the rearing of the young. Social behaviour: West African Green Twinspots live solitarily or in pairs, sometimes together with their young until these are fully grown; from then on these have to look after themselves. The birds are very shy, showing only rarely. It is not an easy species to breed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ortygospiza atricollis GB: Black-faced Quailfinch, D: Rebhuhnastrild, F: Astrild-caille à face noire, E: Estrilda Codorniz Africano, DK: Agerhønerastrild, CZ: Astrild cernohrdlý, NL: Patrijsastrilde Subspecies: Ortygospiza fuscocrissa fuscocrissa, Ortygospiza. f. digressa, Ortygospiza. f. muelleri, Ortygospiza f. pallida, Ortygospiza f. smithersi. The species with a white chin and eye-rings are now classified as Ortygospiza fuscocrissa, and are known as African Quailfinch. Origin: Ethiopia, Eritrea, N Kenya, S and E South Africa, S Mozambique, E Zimbabwe, N Botswana, SE Angola, NW Zambia. Length: 10 cm. (4 in) 
Food: The food taken by quailfinches consists of seeds of grass and small seeds of other plants. Sometimes they eat fallen fruits and small insects as well. Social behaviour: They are typical ground dwellers who live in pairs or in small groups. They move about scurrying or running, as if in a hurry. When frightened they fly almost vertically up, then land at some distance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pytilia afra GB: Orange-winged Pytilia, D: Wienerastrild, F: Beaumarquet à dos jaune, E: Pinzón de Alas Anaranjadas, DK: Wienerastrild , CZ: Astrild Wieneruv, NL: Wienerastrilde Subspecies: none. Origin: Angola, Congo, S Dem. Rep. Congo (Zaire), Uganda, S Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, NE South Africa. Length: 12 cm. (4.8 in) 
Food: Just like other birds of the same genus, the principal food of the Orange-winged Pytilia are small seeds of grasses and other plants. These are found predominantly on the ground. They also eat insects, especially termites. During the first few days, they feed their young predominantly with insects. Social behaviour: They live alone, in pairs or sometimes in small groups. They often keep to the shrubbery, but are also seen high up in trees now and then. Quiet birds that conduct themselves in a rather tame fashion. I have bred a lot of them. Parent reared, of course! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pytilia melba GB: Green-winged Pytilia, D: Buntastrild, F: Beaumarquet melba, E: Pinzón Melba, DK: Broget Astrild, CZ: Astrild pestrý, NL: Melba-astrilde Subspecies: Pytilia melba belli, Pytilia m. hygrophila, Pytilia m. jessei, Pytilia m. percivalli, Pytilia m. citerior, Pytilia m. soudanensis. Origin: Dem. Repl. Congo(Zaïre), Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique en N. South-Africa, W. Uganda, Malawi, N. Zambia, Coastal zone Sudan, Eritrea en N.W. Somalia. Senegal, Z. Mali, Burkina Faso, S. Niger, N. Nigeria, N. Cameroon, S. Chad, S.E. Soedan, Ethiopië. Length: 12-13 cm (4.8-5.1 in) 
Food: The birds mainly feed on seeds, especially grass seeds and small seeds of other plants, which they find on the ground. Sometimes they catch small amounts of insects, mostly ants and termites. The young are fed predominantly with insects during the first 14 days. Social behaviour: Shy, withdrawn birds. In nature they usually live in pairs or small family groups. They often roam the ground or move about in thorny bushes, close to the ground. Flying is not their greatest hobby. Sometimes they fly short stretches, then land almost immediately. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pytilia phoenicoptera GB: Red-winged Pytilia, D: Auroraastrild, F: Beaumarquet aurore, E: Pinzón Aurora, DK: Auroraastrild, CZ: Astrild rudokrídlý, NL: Aurora-astrilde Subspecies: Pytilia phoenicoptera phoenicoptera and Pytilia p. emini. Origin: Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, N Guinea, S Mali, N Ivory Coast, S Burkina Faso, N Ghana, N Togo, N Benin, N Nigeria, N Cameroon, S Chad, Centr. Afr. Rep., S Sudan, N Uganda Length: 12.5-13.0 cm. (5.0-5.2 in) 
 Photo's: Pieter van den Hooven. Food: The birds mainly feed on seeds, especially grass seeds and small seeds of other plants, which they find on the ground. Sometimes they catch small amounts of insects, mostly ants and termites. The young are fed predominantly with insects during the first 14 days. Social behaviour: These birds live alone or in pairs, that is, without other birds of the same species in their company. They are, however, mostly seen together with other waxbills and weavers. Rather quiet, unpretentious birds. They will often sit on a branch for hours on end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pytilia hypogrammica GB: Red-faced Pytilia, D: Rotmaskenastrild, F: Beaumarquet à ailes jaunes, E: Pinzón de Alas Amarillas, DK: Rødmasket Astrild, CZ: Astrild rudocelý, NL: Roodmaskerastrilde Subspecies: Pytilia h. hypogrammica and Pytilia h. lopezi Origin: Sierra Leone, Liberia, S Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, S Nigeria, C Cameroon, W Centr. Afr. Rep. Length: 11 cm. (4.4 in) 
Food: They feed on grass seeds and other small seeds, which they mainly find on the ground. Furthermore they eat some insects, such as termites, among others. The juveniles are predominantly fed with insects during the first 14 days. Social behaviour: They mostly live alone or in pairs, sometimes with other estrildid finches or weavers. Shy and unpretentious birds that do not attract attention and disappear into the bushes at the slightest sign of trouble. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pytilia hypogrammica lopezi GB: Red-faced/Red-winged Pytilia, D: Rotfluegel/Rotmaskenastrild, F: Beaumarquet à ailes jaunes, E: Pinzón de Alas Amarillas, NL: Roodvleugel/Roodmaskerastrilde 
Formally this bird is not a subspecies, but presumably a crossbreed with the Red-winged Pytilia wich also lives in the same range. It appears that the yellow-winged species can be split for red-winged. It is identical to the species described above, except that the wing coverts are red instead of golden yellow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estrild paludicola GB: Fawn-breasted Waxbill, D: Sumpfastrild, F: Astrild à poitrine fauve, E: Astrild Pecho Abanico, DK: Sumpastrild, CZ: Astrild bahenní, NL: Moerasastrilde Subspecies: Estrilda paludicola paludicola, Estrilda p.benguellensis, Estrilda p. marwhitezi, Estrilda p. ochrogaster, EStrilda p. roseicrissa and EStrilda p. ruthae. Origin: Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, N Dem. Rep. Congo (Zaire), Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia. Length: 10-11 cm. (4.0-4.4 in) 
Food: Seeds of grass and weeds, and smaller quantities of little insects form their natural food. Social behaviour: In the wild, the birds live in small groups or in pairs, often together with other estrilda. They are easy to keep in captivity. Several pairs may very well be housed together in an aviary. It sometimes happens that they start chasing each other at the approach of the breeding season, in which case you will be well advised to put the couples apart. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coccopygia quartinia GB: Yellow-bellied Waxbill, D: Grünastrild, F: Astrild vert, E: Estrilda verde de pecho amarillo, DK: Grønrygget Astrild, CZ: Astrild ctyrbarvý, NL: Geelbuikastrilde Subspecies: Coccopygia quartinia quartinia, Coccopygia q.kilimensis, Coccopygia q.stuartirwini. Origin: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Dem. Rep. Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Length: 8-9 cm (3.2-3.6 in) 
Food: Grass seeds and small millet seeds are the birds' staple food. They pick the seeds from the plants or look for ripe seeds fallen to the ground. Furthermore, they eat small insects now and then, the proportion of live food being temporarily larger when they have their young to feed. Social behaviour: Yellow-bellied Waxbills live in pairs or small families. Sometimes they are observed in larger numbers, looking for food together with other small species. They take their food very fast and are constantly on the alert, immediately shooting away to seek cover when they spot trouble. These are sweet, sociable birds that will quickly feel at home in an aviary or a cage. Several pairs may be kept together in a society aviary. Likewise, several may breed at the same time in the same housing without normally causing problems. Most of the time it is a problem to keep these birds alive. Possibly they are missing some essential ingredients. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pyrenestus ostrinus sanguineus GB: Crimson Seedcracker, D: Karmesinastrild, F: Pyréneste gros-bec, E: Pinzón Casca Nueces Rojo, DK: Karminfrøknækker, CZ: Rudoušek karmínový, NL: Karmozijnzaadkraker (Karmozijnastrilde) Subspecies: Pyrenestus sanguineus sanguineus, Pyrenestus s.coccineus Origin: S Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast. Length: 13-14 cm. (5.2-5.6 in) 
Food: They feed on fair-sized seeds of grass and other plants, mostly sedge, a grass-like marsh plant (Carex) with triangular stems and hard, sharp edges. To open the strong seedboxes, a strong bill is indispensable. Moreover, they forage in rice paddies and they eat fruits as well. When raising their young they feed them living food. Social behaviour: Shy birds which disappear in the undergrowth at the slightest danger. They do not fly often; they stay in or near low bushes. Solitary birds, but sometimes also seen together with several others, while searching for food. I have succesfuly bred four juveniles of this bird in the past, in a cage of 125x60x60 cm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erythrura coloria GB: Red-eared Parrotfinch, D: Buntkopf-Papageiamadine, F: Diamant de Mindanao, E: Pinzón Loro de Mindanao, DK: Mangefarvet Papegøjeamadine, CZ: Amada cervenouchá, NL: Coloria papegaai-amadine (Veelkleuren papegaai-amadine) Subspecies: None. Origin: Mount Katanglad, Mount Apo (Mindanao, Philippines). Length: 10 cm (4.0 in) 
Food: They live on seeds of grass, bamboo, herbaceous and other small herb seeds; they sometimes eat insects as well. Social behaviour: Little is known about the social behaviour of these parrotfinches in the wild. They live in remote areas and are hard to observe. These birds come from warm and humid regions. They therefore require sufficiently warm housing, with a temperature of at least 20 °C (68 °F). High ambient humidity is also important. In dry periods one should regularly spray some water about; in addition the birds must have the opportunity to take daily baths. The birds are perfectly suited for keeping in a society aviary. For breeding a large aviary is best, but a breeding cage will also do. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erythrura tricolor GB: Tricolored Parrotfinch, D: Forbes-Papageiamadine, F: Diamant azuvert, E: Pinzón Loro Tres Colores, DK: Blågrøn Papegøjeamadine, CZ: Amada zelenomodrá, NL: Forbes papegaai-amadine Subspecies: None. Origin: Lesser Sunda-Islands Timor, Wetar, Damar, Babar, Tanimbar (Indonesië). Length: 10 cm (4.0 in) 
Food: They eat all sorts of grass seeds, herbaceous seeds being their favourite. They will also catch insects from time to time, especially during the breeding period. Social behaviour: Shy, modest birds which disappear in the greenery at the slightest alarm. They occur in pairs and in small family groups. These parrotfinches come from warm and humid regions. They therefore require warm housing, at least 20 °C (68 °F). High humidity is also important. In dry periods one should regularly spray some water about; in addition the birds must have the opportunity to take daily baths. They are restless and will rarely sit still. They are perfectly suited to be kept in a society aviary. For breeding a large aviary is best, but a breeding cage will also do. Make sure to provide a sufficient number of breeding boxes, either half-open or closed ones provided with an entrance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura castaneothorax sharpii GB: Chestnut-breasted Munia, D: Zwergschilffink, F: Capucin donacole, E: Capuchino de Pecho, DK: Brunbrystet Sivfinke, CZ: Panenka hnedoprsá, NL: Dwergrietvink Subspecies: L. c. sharpii is one of the six subspecies of the Chestnut-breasted Munia. Origin: N New Guinea, Manam Island (Papua New Guinea). Length: 9 cm. (3.6 in)  Photo: Tony Jochem Food: They feed on seeds of grass and sedge (reed grass), wild rice and millet. They normally pick the seeds out of the spikes. It is rare for these birds to get down on the ground. Social behaviour: The birds are colony breeders and are always found close together. Outside the breeding period they roam about in swarms, looking for food. The most beautiful of all subspecies, but rarely seen in the aviculture. They are colony breeders and very easy to breed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura pallida GB: Pale-headed Munia, D: Blasskopfnonne, F: Capucin pâle, E: Capuchino Pálido, DK: Bleghovedet Nonne, CZ: Panenka bledá, NL: Bleekkopnon Subspecies: None, but there is a geographical variety which is slightly darker in colour. Origin: Sulawesi, islands in the Flores Sea, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Length: 10-11 cm. (4.0-4.4 in) 
Food: Seeds of grass, weeds, sedge (reed grass) and rice. Social behaviour: Pale-headed Munias move around in pairs or small family groups. When the rice begins to form seeds, they move from field to field in large flocks, together with other munias. They are colony breeders and easy to breed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura nevermanni GB: Grey-crowned Munia, D: Weißscheitelnonne, F: Capucin de Nevermann, E: Capuchino de Corona Blanca, DK: Sorthaget Nonne, CZ: Panenka svetlehlavá, NL: Witschedelnon Subspecies: none. Origin: SC New Guinea. Length: 11 cm. (4.4 in) 
Food: Various seeds of grass and sedge (reed grass), wild rice and cultivated rice. The seeds are picked out of the spikes or eaten from the ground. Social behaviour: These birds live in pairs or in small groups. They are sometimes seen in the company of Black Mannikins, to which they are closely related. Very nice, quit birds, but not often seen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura flaviprimna GB.: Yellow-rumped Munia, D: Gelbe Schilffink, F: Capucin à croupion jaune, E: Capuchino de Cola Amarilla, DK: Gul Sivfinke, CZ: Panenka žlutobrichá, NL: Gele rietvink Subspecies: none. Origin: NE Australia, W Arnhemland (Australia). Length: 11 cm. (4.4 in) 
Food: Seeds of grass and sedge (reed grass), wild rice, and cultivated rice, of course. Social behaviour: They are colony birds, like most munias. They occur often in the company of Chestnut-breasted Munias. They build their nests in each other’s neighbourhood and crossbreeding has also been observed in the wild. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura spectabilis GB: Hooded Munia, D: Prachtnonne, F: Capucin à capuchin, E: Capuchino de Nueva, DK: Pragtnonne, CZ: Panenka nádherná, NL: Prachtnon Subspecies: Lonchura spectabilis spectabilis, Lonchura s. gajduseki, Lonchura s. mayri, Lonchura s.sepikensis and Lonchura s.wahgiensis. Origin: New Guinea, New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago). Length: 9.5 cm. (3.8 in)  Photo: Pieter van den Hooven Food: They mainly feed on small seeds of grass and sedge. These are picked out of the spikes or found on the ground. They eat also pollen of flowering grass. Social behaviour: Hooded Munias are peaceful colony birds and often breed close together. They usually move about in flocks of 40 to 50 birds. A very nice and tame bird which can be kept in any company. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura malacca GB: Black-headed Munia, D: Dreifarbennonne, F: Capucin à dos marron, E: Monjita Tricolor, DK: Trefarvet Nonne, CZ: Panenka tríbarvá, NL: Driekleurnon Subspecies: Lonchura malacca malacca and Lonchura m. rubronigra. Origin: N India, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Length: 11-12 cm. (4.4-4.8 in) 
Food: Mainly sedge seeds, wild rice and grass seeds. In addition, they help with the rice harvest, without having been asked to. They pick the seeds out of the spikes or find them on the ground. Social behaviour: Tolerant and peaceful birds, but very shy. Black-headed Munias are colony breeders and always found in the company of others. The breast and flanks of subspecies Lonchura m. rubronigra are reddish-brown instead of white. The front line of the black spot on the belly is set back a little. The colour of the rump, uppertail coverts and the outer edges of the tail feathers are a light mahogany. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura bicolor nigriceps GB: Black-and-white Munia, D: Glanzelsterchen, F: Capucin bicolore, E: Capuchino Blanco y Negro, DK: Glansskadefinke, CZ: Stracka voubarvá, NL: Glansekstertje Subspecies: Lonchura bicolor bicolor, Lonchura b. poensis (incl. stigmatophorus), Lonchura b. nigriceps (including minor and rufodorsalis). The picture shows the subspecies Brown-winged Black-and-White Munia, Lonchura b. nigriceps. Origin: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, S Somalia, C and E Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, north-east Africa, Cameroon, Bioco (Fernando Poó), Gabon, N Angola, Congo, Centr. Afr. Rep., E Dem. Rep. Congo. Length: 9,5 cm. (3.8 in)  Photo: Pieter van den Hooven Food: Mainly sedge seeds, wild rice and grass seeds. In addition, they help with the rice harvest, without having been asked to. They pick the seeds out of the spikes or find them on the ground. Social behaviour: Mostly tolerant and peaceful birds, but very shy. Black-headed Munias are colony breeders and always found in the company of others. Sometimes they can be aggresive towards other species. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lonchura fuscata GB: Timor Sparrow, D: Timorreisfink, F: Padda de Timor, E: Capuchino de Timor, DK: Timorrisfugl, CZ: Rýžovník hnedý, NL: Timor rijstvogel Subspecies: none. Origin: Lesser Sunda Islands Timor, Semau and Roti (Indonesia). Length: 12 cm. (4.8 in) 
Food: They feed on seeds of grass, sedge (reed grass), thistles and bamboo and wild rice. At harvest time they come to the rice paddies and maize fields. Social behaviour: Timor Sparrows live in pairs or in small family groups, in grasslands grown with trees and shrubbery. |
© 2009 by Tony Jochem |
