- Estrilda melanotis
Coccopygia melanotis
Identification
Length 9-10 cm, mass 8 g. Adult male: Black face and upper throat contrasts with grey crown and nape and white lower throat. Breast pale grey and belly pale buff. Bill black above and red below and eyes red. Adult female: Similar to the male, but has a pale grey face and white chin and throat. Juvenile: Similar to the female, but duller, with a black bill and dark brown eyes.
Distribution
Southern and eastern South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and extreme south-western Mozambique. There is an isolated population in Angola.
Taxonomy
Some authorities consider E. melanotis to be conspecific with E. quartinia Yellow-bellied Waxbill. Others believe the complex comprises three species: E. melanotis from South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland; E. quartinia from eastern Africa; and E. bocagei from Angola.
This complex has recently been placed in the genus Coccopygia by some authorities.
Subspecies (Fry et al., 2004): E. m. melanotis from southern and eastern South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland; and E. m. bocagei from Angola.
Habitat
Forest and plantation edges, bushy vegetation, parks, gardens and farmyards.
Behaviour
Does not move long distances, other than local altitudinal migration in some populations. Forages in pairs or small groups on plants and on the ground for seeds and insects. Although fairly confiding, they are easily overlooked as they seldom venture far from dense cover.
Breeding: Monogamous and territorial. The nest is enclosed and oval with the entrance on the side and near the top. It is built by both sexes using grass. Three to nine eggs are laid in summer (October to April). Parasitised by Pin-tailed Whydah.
References
Fry H, Keith S, Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319
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
Lepage D. 2007. Avibase. Search for "Swee Waxbill" downloaded 2 December 2007.
