OTHER GENERAL NAMES
English: red-cheeked blue waxbill , Cordon-bleu
PHYSICAL FEATURES
Around 5 in or 13 cm. It is dimorphic sexually; a pink bill, male possesses a red spot on cheeks, feathers are paler for female; female does not have red spots on cheeks; pink brown or light brown legs. Have a darker bill and Juveniles do not have blue on flanks.
DISTRIBUTION
East to Ehiopia, Southern Mauritania, northern to south Zambia. A major population is located in Hawaii.
HABITAT
Found in thorn scrub, grassland, forest clearings and edges, gardens and villages, savanna, dry woodland and roadsides, villages and cultivated places.
BEHAVIOR
Seen in small flocks or pair at the time of breeding. Else, they can be seen together in huge mixed species flocks. The song is a “ssee-deedelee-deedelee-ssee-see” or “te tchee-wa-tcheee” and the call is a “tsee-tsee-tsee.”
FEEDING SYSTEM AND DIET
Feeds on different kinds of insects and seeds on the ground which includes termites that are seen occasionally in flight.
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
It uses old Ploceus weaver nests or makes its own round nest a lot above the ground. Three to five white eggs are hatched for eleven days.