The western bluebill is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,900,000 km2.
Region
West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
This species inhabits lowland and foothill moist forests from Upper Guinea through the Congo Basin margins, including forest edges, secondary growth, gallery forests, and thickets near streams. It favors dense understorey with tangles of vines and saplings, where it forages close to the ground. Western bluebills readily use disturbed habitats with sufficient cover, such as cacao and coffee plantations adjoining forest. They are typically local but can be fairly common where suitable cover persists.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The western bluebill is a shy forest estrildid finch noted for its thick, powder-blue bill adapted to cracking hard seeds. Males are striking with dark plumage and rich crimson underparts, while females are browner and more subdued. They often skulk in dense undergrowth and may duet softly, making them easier to hear than see. During termite emergences they opportunistically switch from seeds to flying insects.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found singly, in pairs, or small family groups within dense cover. Nests are dome-shaped structures placed low in thick vegetation or vine tangles. Both parents participate in incubation and feeding of nestlings. Courtship includes soft calls and close-chasing within undergrowth.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song and calls are soft, high-pitched whistles and thin trills, often delivered from concealed perches. Contact notes are short tsip or seee phrases repeated at intervals, with duets between pair members in subdued sequences.
Plumage
Male is mostly dark slate-black above with rich crimson from throat to belly and a contrasting powder-blue bill; female is warm brown above with paler, rufous-washed underparts and a similar thick blue bill.
Diet
Primarily consumes small hard seeds from grasses, sedges, and forest herbs, using its robust bill to crack tough husks. It supplements the diet with small fruits and berries when available. During breeding and after rains it takes insects such as termites, ants, and small beetles to meet higher protein needs.
Preferred Environment
Feeds low in dense understorey, at forest edges, along streams, and in brushy clearings. It also forages in shaded agroforestry plots like cacao and coffee where leaf-litter and shrub cover are abundant.
