Common Waxbill
Waxbill ( Estrilda astrild )
The waxbill ( Estrilda astrild ) is a passerine bird of the family of finches. The species inhabits large parts of Africa south of the Sahara. For the kind fifteen to seventeen subspecies are usually distinguished. However, these have sometimes only minor distinguishing features and are difficult distinguishable from each other in many cases. Often runs the geographic variation of the species in the form of a not clearly distinguishable stepped Kline with numerous transitional forms.
The waxbill applies IUCN as a common and not endangered.
Features
The 11 to 13 cm long waxbill reaches a wingspan of 12-14 cm and a weight of 7-10 g The gray-brown plumage has a fine, wavy banding on. Throat and belly are paler. Depending on the subspecies may be on the belly, a washed - pink to bright - red stripe are. The face shows a broad scarlet eye-streak. The conical bill is sealing wax red colored (of which the English name derives Common Waxbill ). In young birds the bill is blackish.
Dissemination
Wellenastrilde are in the southern and tropical Africa from the Cape to Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, and widespread in the highlands of Ethiopia. They are missing in northern Namibia and Somalia as well as in closed lowland rainforest of the Congo region. They also come naturally on the islands of Bioko, Zanzibar and Mafia. The population density is often very high. In South Africa come in rural areas per square kilometer, 125 pairs before, in suburbs around ten breeding pairs per square kilometer. In the acacia savannah of Swaziland the stock is about 230 birds per 100 hectares.
The bird was introduced in the following areas: St. Helena, Ascension, Mauritius, Réunion, Tahiti, the Seychelles, Hawaii and parts of Brazil. The occurring on the Cape Verde Islands Wellenastrilde to be descendants of birds that escaped in 1865 from a coming from Angola animal transport. In Europe, the bird breeds since 1964 in Spain and Portugal. The local population was estimated in 1998 at 20,000 to 200,000 individuals. It also occurs on the islands of Madeira, Gran Canaria and the Azores.
The waxbill inhabited open savannas, bush landscapes, fields and marshes. In drier areas it is often found near water. In the wooded parts of its range it grows even grass -lined glades. Search for food, he often finds himself in a land of culture, in gardens, in fields, sugar cane plantations and on mown meadows.
Way of life
Outside the breeding season live Wellenastrilde very sociable and occur in flocks of more than 100 individuals. They fall evening in reeds and papyrus stocks or in thick bushes to stay there. Your sleeps fall on, among other things by their sounds and the restless flying back and forth of the birds. In the morning they leave sleeps very quickly just before break of dawn. Occasionally, they are associated with other finches. They have already been observed, together with Grünastrilden, orange cheeks, Kappenastrilden, bronze male and Sumpfastrilden and Zügelastrilden and Goldbrüstchen. The large swarms dissolve at the beginning of the breeding season.
The waxbill feeds almost exclusively of grass seeds, but insects supplement the diet The bird often sits on blades of grass to get to the seeds. He seeks his food but also on the ground. Detected as food plants include several species of Rispenhirsen, Sporobulus inductus, Urochloa masambicensis, types of finger millet, millet bristle, love grasses, millet and chicken Hyparrhenia. The song of the Wellenastrilde is quiet and unassuming.
Reproduction
The waxbill breeds in the rainy season when there is plenty of insects for the next generation. The courtship is similar to the closely related Grauastrilds. Like him, he shows a Halmbalz, in which the male carries a blade of grass or failing that, a spring in its beak and dances in front of the female while singing recites his verses. Also, the female shows this Halmbalz, but without singing. He builds a small, spherical nest with tubular side entrance of intertwined stems. It is located in a tuft of grass or in a bush close to the ground. Very often, in some areas, even regularly, can be found on the roof of the nest a second, semi- vaulted nest, called a rooster nest. The female lays four or five white eggs, which are incubated approximately two weeks. Both parents birds are involved in the breeding and feeding and hudern the young birds later. The young birds fledge about three weeks.
The waxbill is also host of brutparasitären Dominican widow and purples Atlas widow ( Vidua funerea ).
Attitude
Wellenastrilde be cultivated as an ornamental bird in Europe for a long time and were already in the second half of the 18th century in the trade. The ornithologist Vieillot reported at the beginning of the 19th century in detail about the attitude of this kind in Germany the first Wellenastrilde mid-19th century came in the trade. Since the 1870s, they are regularly introduced in various subspecies. Due to their attractive plumage and its lively nature, she included at times the most popular and most frequently introduced finch species. They apply together with the Senegalamarant as the easiest -to-maintain African finches. However, the breeding of this type requires some experience.