Cinderella Waxbill
The Cinderella Waxbill ( Estrilda thomensis ) is a monotypic species of the family of the Finches, native to Africa. It is classified by BirdLife International because of severe habitat destruction than in potentially at risk ( near threatened ). The population is estimated at fewer than 2,000 individuals.
Description
The Cinderella Waxbill reaches a body length of eleven centimeters. The males have a black eye-streak, which extends a little way up behind the eye. The top of the head, the back and wing-coverts are pale blue-gray. The way so similar to the Waxbill. The chin, the sides of the head and throat are pale blue-gray. The crop area and chest are bright tinged blue-gray and reddish. The flanks, the upper tail-coverts and rump are crimson. The back shows the Cinderella Waxbill a reddish approach. The flight feathers are brownish gray and narrow, lined with blue-gray on the basal part of the outer web. The inner secondaries, however, are blue-gray. The tail feathers are black. The beak is black and at the base of the upper and lower mandible light reddish.
The female resembles the male, but lacking the reddish hint on the back and the body has less red on bottom. The young birds resemble the adult birds. However, you are missing the black eye-streak and pink approach to breast and coat, which is typical of adult birds. The cheeks and chin are dark and do not contrast with the coat. The flanks are mottled burgundy and gray. The beak is dark and dull.
Overall, the Cinderella Waxbill appears as a paler and slightly more delicate version of the Black-tailed Schönbürzels. However, the area of distribution of the two species overlap only in northern Angola. To the west of Southern Africa the Cinderella Waxbill replaced this Article
Dissemination and lifestyle
The distribution area of Cinderella Schönbürzels is West Angola and Namibia. While he is a sedentary bird in Angola, he emigrated to Namibia during the rainy season. Its habitat, the riparian vegetation of larger rivers and gallery forests and acacia and mopane mixed woodland. He lives in pairs or small flocks of eight, sometimes 25 to 30 individuals. Basically, Cinderella Waxbill very dependent on water and come accordingly often at waterholes to drink there. The first birds usually meet from 8 clock in the morning on the water, most congregate here 9-11 clock, after 13 clock, however, are only a few to watch as they rest during the greatest heat of the day. Individual birds return in the late afternoon hours to about one hour before sunset at the water points back. Cinderella Waxbill primarily eat small seeds, parts of plants and insects such as termites or winged tree lice.
The reproductive behavior of the species is so far little explored. Nests are from the field so far not known. In Namibia, but the breeding begins apparently falls in the months of November to December. The nest consists in captive birds from three to four white eggs. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days. The nestlings are fed by both parents.
Attitude
Cinderella Waxbill have been introduced in the 1960s a few times to Europe. The present affirmed succeeded in 1969. On the few Cinderella Schönbürzeln that had previously been bred in captivity, one could observe a strong Bautrieb. On the massive nest a rooster nest was built, in which the male during the day resting. The incubation period was about a fortnight.