African Firefinch

Description:

A male and a female Firefinch. Size 8-10 cm from head to tail. Red/orange chest, grey head and back, and small white dots on the sides. A common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of Africa. The bigger bird in the background is "a female or non-breeding male southern red bishop (Euplectes orix)" according to Professor rautenbachf. Thank you for that :)

Habitat:

At an almost dried out waterhole surrounded with woodland.

Notes:

The African Firefinch is one of 10 species of firefinches and is also known as the Blue-billed Firefinch. The male is mostly red that tends to be more brown on the upperparts. The undertail covers and part of the belly is black. The eyes are dark with a pinkish eye ring. Female and juvenile African Firefinches are mostly brown with some red on the rump and face. Only adults have white spots on the sides. The adult bill color is a silver blue. African Firefinches are believed to be monogamous. If one of them dies, the other will seek out a new mate. African Firefinches are not solitary birds. You will normally see them in pairs or flocks. Plumage/Molt African Firefinches do not have an alternate or breeding plumage. They molt annually and the adults may become flightless for up to 3 weeks between December and March when moulting their fight feathers. During this time they hide in vegetation near water.