Yellow-bellied waxbill

The yellow-bellied waxbill is a species of estrildid finch native to East Africa. The bird is now named yellow-bellied swee.

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Distribution

Region

East African Highlands

Typical Environment

Occurs patchily along montane belts from the Ethiopian Highlands south through the highlands of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and northern Tanzania. It favors forest edges, bamboo thickets, montane scrub, bracken, overgrown clearings, and well-vegetated gardens. Often found in secondary growth and along streams where grasses and seeding herbs are abundant. It keeps close to cover and rarely ventures far into open areas.

Altitude Range

1200–3200 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size10–11 cm

Wing Span12–16 cm

Male Weight0.007 kg

Female Weight0.006 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

Also known as the yellow-bellied swee, this small estrildid finch is native to the East African highlands. It frequents forest edges and scrub where it forages low in vegetation. Its fine, tinkling contact calls often reveal flocks before they are seen. Like many waxbills, it supplements a mainly seed diet with small insects during breeding.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

social and wary near cover

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief undulations

Social Behavior

Usually in pairs or small family parties, sometimes forming loose flocks in non-breeding season. Nests are neat, ball-shaped structures of grass hidden low in dense shrubs or tangles. Both sexes participate in nest building and chick rearing.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A soft, tinkling series of high-pitched notes and short trills, often delivered from within cover. Contact calls are thin, see-see or tsit notes exchanged frequently within the flock.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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