[Harry Hussey]

Hi all,
A friend and I were at the Old Head of Kinsale today,and in addition to single Redstart,Pied Fly,Spotted Fly,Whitethroat,3 Chiffchaffs and 4 Willow Warblers we had an odd finch fly over calling ,which we later pinned down and saw briefly and identified as a waxbill/avadavat sp.
My own first impressions based on the net are that it was a Common Waxbill,but I'll have to check the literature(know that the species is included in European field guides due to feral populations).
The bill was red or reddish,and there was at least some red around the eye(may even have had a reddish mask?).
The tail was contrastingly black or blackish in flight.
There seemed to be a reddish area near the vent when the bird flicked over on to the far side of the hedge.
Quite small(as expected for any of these birds)
Seemed pale sandy brownish on head/uppers/underparts
Harry H

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Harry,

Certainly sounds most like a Common Waxbill. Had a look through Finches & Sparrows, and that's the best match of anything.

Michael

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Michael,
Thanks:we didn't get prolonged views,so that's why the amount of detail noted is below my usual standards!;-)
Saw it with a fellow NE Englishman of yours:Graham Gordon.
Could be a genuine vagrant from the Portugese population...?;-)
Harry H

[Steve]

No grahams definately English Harry.

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Steve,
Was wondering when someone would make that joke!
Bet if that bird had turned up in the UK there would have been some birders willing to twitch it....;-)
Harry H
P.S.In case anyone takes offence at the last sentence,remember that I went to Cape Clear in JULY to see a Redhead!Better to be safe than sorry!

[CJW]

Originally posted by Harry Hussey

Bet if that bird had turned up in the UK there would have been some birders willing to twitch it....;-)

Ooh ooh, is it still there? How much are flights? Now if only I knew of someone who was able to get me a cheap deal....

[logos]

Hi Harry,

Your mention of red near the vent leads me to think this may have been an escaped Black-rumped Waxbill rather than a Common Waxbill, which lacks red there.

Spud

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Spud,

Not according to Finches & Sparrows, that shows both as having (on males only) a small diffuse red patch more-or-less between the legs.

In F&S, the difference between them from below given, is that Common Waxbill has black under-tail coverts and black outer tail feathers, whereas Black-rumped has white under-tail coverts and white outer tail feathers. I'd guess the former fits better with Harry's impression of a black tail.

Michael

[logos]

Hi Michael,

I don't have a copy of F&S so it might be worth comparing notes. In guides covering East and South Africa both species are shown with a reddish streak on the belly between the legs but differ obviously due to the black vent of Common vs the white vent of Black-rumped. However, in West Africa, where most estrilida finches originate Common appears to lack any red and Black-rumped has a clear red patch on the rear flanks where they meet the vent (Demey and Borrow, 2002).

I wonder how this tallies with F&S and whether they say much about geographical variation. I believe the red bill makes the bird a male.

Spud

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Spud,

F&S illustrates 4 races of Common:
astrild (nominate; S Africa to Botswana): small red patch as you describe
rubriventris (coastal Gabon to Angola): extensive pink-red wash to entire belly down to black under-tail coverts
damarensis (Namibia): as nominate below (paler brown above)
peasii (Sudan to Tanzania & Zaire): no red patch, but pale pink tone to entire underparts from mid-breast down.
More in the text detailed descriptions, haven't got time to copy it out now!

and Black-rumped as monotypic:
troglodytes: small red patch between legs, plus hint of pink wash to rest of breast & belly

Yep, red bill = male, as does the red lower belly patch, except for damarensis and rubriventris where females also have red bills.

Hope that helps - I don't have the African guides.

Michael

[Harry Hussey]

Hi all,
After searching the literature,and seeing the bird again today,the bird was a Black-rumped Waxbill.
Harry H