The swee waxbill (''Coccopygia melanotis''), is a common species of
estrildid finch
Estrildidae, or estrildid finches, is a family (taxonomy), family of small seed-eating passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They comprise species commonly known as munias, mannikins, firefinches, parrotfinches and waxbills.
...
native to
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of Africa. No definition is agreed upon, but some groupings include the United Nations geoscheme for Africa, United Nations geoscheme, the intergovernmental Southern African Development Community, and ...
.
Description and subspecies
The swee waxbill is 9–10 cm long with a grey head and breast, pale yellow belly, olive back and wings, red lower back and rump, and a black tail. The upper mandible is black and the lower red. The male has a black face, but the female's face is grey. Juveniles are much duller than the female and have an all-black bill.
Habitat and behaviour
The swee waxbill is typically found in uplands in dry shrubland and open forest habitats. Some subspecies also occur in lowlands, and may be seen in large gardens.
This species is a common and tame bird typically seen in small parties, and does not form large flocks. The swee waxbill's call is typically considered a soft ''swee, swee''.
References
BirdLife Species Factsheet* Clement, Harris and Davis, ''Finches and Sparrows''
External links
Species text in ''The Atlas of Southern African Birds''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q27075727
swee waxbill
Birds of Southern Africa
swee waxbill