Skip to main content
Close

Waxbill

Estrilda astrild

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

7.01367, 38.4741

Field Notes

Description:

Also known as St Helena waxbill, this is a small finch, smaller than House sparrow (approx 11 to 12 cm in length), all in grey-brownish colors with red eye-mask and red bill; and whitish cheeks and chin.

Habitat:

Common resident bird in many places of sub-Saharan Africa, usually found in small groups and near water. Looks for tall grass and reed vegetation on shores and marshy areas. Here, on shores of lake Awassa, in marshy parts of this shallow freshwater (or slightly alkaline) lake.

Notes:

Lake Awassa (or Hawassa) is a part of main Ethiopian Rift Valley series of lakes, situated at some 1700 m of altitude. Like most of Rift lakes in Ethiopian highlands, this is an endorreic lake (landlocked mass of water having no outlet and not connected to the sea), and as such surrounded by marshes that regulate its levels through evaporation. Because of marshes and its forested shores, the lake is known as birdwatcher's paradise.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment

Sign in to comment

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon