Common/St Helena Waxbill Estrilda astrild

Waxbill St Helena
Common Waxbill
Common Waxbill
The Common Waxbill (named after its sealing wax red, shiny bill), also called the St Helena Waxbill, is a finch with red goggles which is native to much of sub-Saharan Africa. The Common Waxbill is very similar to the Black-rumped (Red-eared) Waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes) which has a similar range. However the Common has a brown rump (not black) and a black vent (not white).
Common Waxbill
Common Waxbill
St Helena Waxbill
Male and female have similar plumage but the female's colours are less bright.
Common Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Waxbill on roller skates "I got a brand new pair of roller skates."
The Black-rumped (Red-eared) Waxbill (not shown), native to central Africa overlapping the northern part of the Common Waxbill range, looks similar with a bright red bill but has much fainter barring, a black rump, white undertail and some white edging to the black tail.