Red-billed Firefinch

Description:

Pictured here is nominate race of Red-billed Firefinch. Adult male (photos 1 and 3), has a pink washes covering the head, sides of neck, mantle, rump and upper tail; while the vent and wing covers are brown. It has a distinctively red bill and yellow eye-ring. Female (ph 2) is sandy brown, with pinkish lores, rump and upper-tail. Both sexes, when adults, harbors white spots on breasts and flanks. Last two pictures are of young male moulting to breeding feathers.

Habitat:

Lives in semi-arid woodland, close to water sources and rivers. Very common in villages and gardens. Very common in Sahel regions.