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Estrildid finch

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae (weaver-finch) or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows.

They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colours and pattern.

All the estrildids build large domed nests and lay 5–10 white eggs. Many species build roost nests. Some of the fire-finches and pytilias are hosts to the brood-parasitic indigobirds and whydahs respectively.

Most are sensitive to cold and require a warm, usually tropical, habitat, although a few have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia.

The smallest species of the family is the Fernando Po Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) at a mere 8.3 cm (3.3 inches), although the lightest species is the Black-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes) at 6 g. The largest species is the Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora), at 17 cm (6.7 inches) and 25 g.

Species list

Antpeckers, genus Parmoptila

Jameson's Antpecker, Parmoptila rubrifrons
Woodhouse's Antpecker, Parmoptila woodhousei

Negrofinches, genus Nigrita

White-breasted Negrofinch, Nigrita fusconota
Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Nigrita bicolor
Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Nigrita luteifrons
Grey-headed Negrofinch, Nigrita canicapilla

Olivebacks, genus Nesocharis

White-collared Oliveback, Nesocharis ansorgei
Fernando Po Oliveback, Nesocharis shelleyi
Grey-headed Oliveback, Nesocharis capistrata

Pytilias, genus Pytilia

Orange-winged Pytilia, Pytilia afra
Red-winged Pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera
Green-winged Pytilia, Pytilia melba
Red-faced Pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica

Genus Mandingoa

Green-backed Twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula

Crimson-wings, genus Cryptospiza

Red-faced Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza reichenovii
Abyssinian Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza salvadorii
Dusky Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza jacksoni
Shelley's Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza shelleyi

Seedcrackers, genus Pyrenestes

Crimson Seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus
Black-bellied Seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus
Lesser Seedcracker, Pyrenestes minor

Bluebills, genus Spermophaga

Grant's Bluebill, Spermophaga poliogenys
Western Bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
Red-headed Bluebill, Spermophaga ruficapilla

Twinspots, genera Clytospiza, Hypargos, Euschistospiza

Brown Twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
Peters' Twinspot, Hypargos niveoguttatus
Pink-throated Twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus
Dybowski's Twinspot, Euschistospiza dybowskii
Dusky Twinspot, Euschistospiza cinereovinacea

Firefinches, genus Lagonosticta

Bar-breasted Firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta
Brown Firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula
Red-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala
Black-bellied Firefinch, Lagonosticta rara
African Firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata
Pale-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta landanae
Jameson's Firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia
Mali Firefinch, Lagonosticta virata
Rock Firefinch, Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis
Black-throated Firefinch

Lagonosticta larvata
Lagonosticta vinacea

Reichenow's Firefinch, Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis

Cordon-bleus, genus Uraeginthus

Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus angolensis
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus bengalus
Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Purple Grenadier, Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Common Grenadier, Uraeginthus granatinus also known as Violet-eared Waxbill

Waxbills, genus Estrilda

Lavender Waxbill, Estrilda caerulescens
Black-tailed Waxbill, Estrilda perreini
Cinderella Waxbill, Estrilda thomensis
Swee Waxbill also known as Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Estrilda quartinia
Estrilda melanotis

Fawn-breasted Waxbill

Estrilda ochrogaster
Estrilda poliopareia
Estrilda paludicola

Anambra Waxbill, Estrilda poliopareia
Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
Arabian Waxbill, Estrilda rufibarba
Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Estrilda rhodopyga
Black-rumped Waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes
Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild
Black-lored Waxbill, Estrilda nigriloris
Black-crowned Waxbill, Estrilda nonnula
Black-headed Waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla
Black-cheeked Waxbill, Estrilda erythronotos
Red-rumped Waxbill, Estrilda charmosyna

Avadavats, genus Amandava

Red Avadavat, Amandava amandava also known as Red Munia
Green Avadavat, Amandava formosa
Zebra Waxbill, Amandava subflava also known as Orange-breasted Waxbill

Quailfinches, genus Ortygospiza

Red-billed Quailfinch, Ortygospiza gabonensis
African Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
Locustfinch, Ortygospiza locustella

Firetails, genera Emblema, Stagonopleura, Oreostruthus

Painted Firetail, Emblema pictum
Beautiful Firetail, Stagonopleura bella
Red-eared Firetail, Stagonopleura oculata
Diamond Firetail, Stagonopleura guttata
Mountain Firetail, Oreostruthus fuliginosus

Genus Neochmia

Red-browed Firetail, Neochmia temporalis
Crimson Finch, Neochmia phaeton
Star Finch, Neochmia ruficauda

N. r. subclarescens
N. r. clarescens
N. r. ruficauda

Plum-headed Finch, Neochmia modesta also known as Cherry Finch

Genus Taeniopygia

Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata

T. g. guttata
T. g. castanotis

Chestnut-eared Finch, Taeniopygia castanotis
Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii also known as Bicheno Finch or Owl Finch

Genus Poephila

Masked Finch, Poephila personata
Long-tailed Finch, Poephila acuticauda
Black-throated Finch, Poephila cincta

P. c. cincta
P. c. atropygialis

Parrotfinches, genus Erythrura

Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, Erythrura hyperythra
Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, Erythrura prasina
Green-faced Parrotfinch, Erythrura viridifacies
Tricolored Parrotfinch, Erythrura tricolor
Blue-faced Parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa
Red-eared Parrotfinch, Erythrura coloria
Papuan Parrotfinch, Erythrura papuana
Red-throated Parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea
Fiji Parrotfinch, Erythrura pealii
Red-headed Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens
Royal Parrotfinch, Erythrura regia
Pink-billed Parrotfinch, Erythrura kleinschmidti

Genus Chloebia

Gouldian Finch, Chloebia gouldiae

Munias and Silverbills, genus Lonchura

Madagascar Munia, Lonchura nana
African Silverbill, Lonchura cantans
Indian Silverbill, Lonchura malabarica also known as White-throated Munia
Grey-headed Silverbill, Lonchura griseicapilla
Bronze Mannikin, Lonchura cucullata also known as Bronze Munia
Black-and-white Mannikin, Lonchura bicolor also known as Black-and-white Munia
Brown-backed Mannikin, Lonchura nigriceps also known as Brown-backed Munia
Magpie Mannikin, Lonchura fringilloides also known as Magpie Munia
White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata
Javan Munia, Lonchura leucogastroides
Dusky Munia, Lonchura fuscans
Black-faced Munia, Lonchura molucca
Black-throated Munia, Lonchura kelaarti also known as Jerdon's Mannikin
Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata also known as Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch
White-bellied Munia, Lonchura leucogastra
Streak-headed Munia, Lonchura tristissima