From Opus

Alternative name: Blue Waxbill

Uraeginthus angolensis

Photo by Mybs
Matetsi Water Lodge, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, May 2005.

[edit] Identification

Length 13 cm, mass 7.0-13.5 g.

The only blue waxbill in most of its range. Bill greyish.

[edit] Similar species

Blue-capped Cordonbleu has a pink-red bill, head of male entirely blue; Male Red-cheeked Cordonbleu has a red cheek patch.

[edit] Distribution

Africa: Bioko, southern DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, eastern South Africa and Swaziland.

[edit] Taxonomy

Uraeginthus angolensis has four subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Dry woodland, savanna and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds mainly on grass seeds taken from the ground or directly from the inflorescence. Also eats small fuit and insects.

[edit] Breeding

Monogamous and territorial, but only defends immediate vicinity of nest. The nest is a ball of dry grass with a side entrance, usually placed within 4 m of the ground in a bush or tree. Two to seven eggs are laid; incubated for 11-12 days by both sexes. Occasionally parasitised by Shaft-tailed Whydah.

[edit] References

1. Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533
2. Sinclair I & Ryan P. 2003. Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0620207299

[edit] External Links