Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Estrilda melpoda
Alternative names:
Red-cheeked Waxbill
orange-cheeked waxbill

Length 10cm, 4 inches.

Description Easily identifiable bird by virtue of it’s orange face, which is always present, including at juvenile stage. Grey head, brown back and wings, orange-red rump and black tail. Underparts buff to pale grey. The sexes are difficult to separate, some suggest that brighter/larger orange cheek patches are indicative of a male, but this is thought to be unreliable. Juveniles are paler versions of the adult. There is at least one sub-species of the orange-cheek (Estrilda melpoda tschadensis), which displays generally ruddier appearance.

Distribution and Habitat Western and Central Tropical Africa. Prefers grassland in close proximity to water or grassy clearings in forested areas.

Housing The Orange-cheeked seems to be one of the hardier waxbills but nevertheless it is unreasonable to expose them to the hardships of a typical UK winter and expect them to thrive. If kept in an aviary a heated shelter is essential, a combination of cold and damp will always have ill consequence. It is also necessary to provide artificial lighting to prolong feeding opportunities during the darker months. It is a particular pleasure of the author to observe the enthusiasm of these birds in the bird bath, though one should stand well back to avoid a soaking! In my experience Orange-cheeks live peacefully in groups alongside other species, but it is good practice to be watchful when introducing new birds to an established group.

Feeding Should have a variety of small seeds available, for instance a good foreign finch mix, wild seeds, maw, niger and millet sprays. Seeding grasses should be presented when available and small insects are taken keenly. Most Orange-cheeks seem to appreciate soaked seed and will tackle broccoli florets. During their time in the nest livefood forms a significant proportion of the diet of young birds.

Breeding The nest in the wild is pear-shaped and constructed of grass stems, often on, or close to, the ground. A ‘cock’s nest’ is often added. Orange-cheeks will build in suitable vegetation in a planted aviary, or they may use nestboxes or baskets where available. Artificial nest sites should be shielded by vegetation, for instance conifer prunings, to offer privacy to their occupants who are highly likely to abandon a disturbed nest. A clutch consists of 4-6 white eggs, incubation is 12-13 days and hatched young will remain in the nest for up to three weeks. The young will become independent after about a further two weeks.

References: Clement, Harris and Davis (1999); Serle, Morel and Hartwig (1988); Verhoef-Verhallen (1999); Goodwin (1982).

For further general information see Care of Waxbills page.

map for orange-cheek
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Black-crowned Waxbill
Estrilda nonnula
Alternative names:
Black-capped Waxbill
White-breasted Waxbill
Black-crowned waxbill

Length 11-12cm, 4.5 inches.

Description This and the Black-headed Waxbill are very similar. Much paler grey on upperparts than the Black-headed and has virtually all white (tinged grey) underparts whereas the Black-headed has black on the vent and a larger area of red on the flanks.

Male Lores and forehead to crown and nape jet-black. Back and wing coverts ash grey finely barred dark grey or black. Rump and upper tail coverts deep crimson. Tail black and rounded at the tip. Face white extending to entire underparts except for greyish tinge on sides of breast, lower breast and flanks. Undertail coverts tinged grey. Small crimson patch on lower flanks. Bill patterned in light red and black on both mandibles.

Female Similar to male but slightly greyer brown mantle with less distinct barring, and white parts are usually more suffused with grey particularly in vent area. Differences are more apparent when viewed in good sunlight.

Distribution and Habitat S.E. Nigeria, Cameroons, S.W. Sudan, Uganda, S.W. Kenya, E. Congo, Zaire.

Inhabits forest clearings, forest edge, cultivated areas or savannah with abundance of bushes.Feeds largely on grass seeds including cultivated millet. Catches flying termites on the wing. Said also to feed on buds. Highly social, sometimes in very large flocks.

Housing In captivity is reasonably hardy, but needs minimum temperature of 10 to 15 degrees C.

Feeding Will feed on a mixture of small millets and canary seed and appreciates honey water/nectar. When feeding young requires small live food such as small, white mealworms, buffalo worms, white worms, bloodworms, fruit flies etc.

Breeding In the wild, nests usually in a bush or tree from less than one to about six metres high. Several nests may be sited in the same tree. Nest built of grass stems usually with a shortish entrance tube sloping down and lined with feathers, vegetable down and fine fibres. Usually 4 to 6 eggs , incubation period is 11 to 13 days and young fledge at 20 to 22 days old. Both sexes share incubation by day. All calls are very soft and high pitched, the nest call being a faint soft twittering. Male may display holding a stem of grass and jerking the head upwards but female may display in similar manner, usually without the grass.

Will nest and breed in a colony or as a single pair (as it is difficult to sex accurately it is easier to use the colony system).

Suffers from a tendency to lose feathering on the head when over two years of age (probably a dietary deficiency). This does not, however, appear to affect breeding capacity.