Glaucestrilda coerulescens
The Lavender Waxbill is a tiny, slender finch with a distinctive lavender-grey plumage that covers most of its body. Its face, throat, and upper breast are washed with a soft blue tint, while the top of the tail and undertail coverts are red.
Both sexes look mostly similar, with a small, bright, pinkish-grey beak, a small black stripe across the eyes and black legs. Females usually have darker underparts, although its hard to tell the sexes apart.
Juveniles have paler plumage, no black eyestripe and less red colouring on the undertail coverts and tail.
Length
9cm to 10cm
Wingspan
12cm to 14cm
Weight
8g to 15g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey Red
Secondary Colour
Purple
Beak Colour
Pink Grey
Leg Colour
Black
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Lavender Waxbills are native to sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to northern South Africa. They inhabit open grasslands, savannahs, and woodland edges, often near water sources.
These birds are non-migratory and maintain a relatively stable distribution throughout the year. They have been successfully introduced to Hawaii in the United States.
Up to 1,500 meters
Tropical, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Lavender Waxbill. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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