Common Waxbill

The Common Waxbill is a small bird measuring 13cm, placed size wise between the Blue Tit and the Coal Tit. Its most striking visual characteristic is its red, arrow-shaped mask that stretches from its beak all the way to its ear-coverts. This bright colour is further accentuated by its large and bright red conical beak. Its brown eyes are nicely contrasted with the red mask. The dominant colour of the bird is gray-brown, with some regional variations. Its crest and neck are grey, more or less streaked, its cheeks and throat ranges from white to grey; the red mask separates both parts of the head. The rest of the body is finely but clearly streaked. Its back and sides of the neck are grey and yet to have streaks. The mantle, the wings (short and rounded), the rump and the tail are brown-gray, its primary remiges and rectrices are slightly darker and more brown. Their streaks are also wider. The streaks of the upper parts are repeated in the lower part of the chest and flanks which are lighter beige. A more or less red or pink patch is visible in the middle of the belly. Again, its size varies according to different areas, and can reach up to the throat. The undersides of the tail and the belly are black. The second part of the rectrices is black and the streaks are almost invisible. The female's undersides of the tail are brownish. The legs are black. The juvenile has a duller plumage and a black beak with a white rim on its commissures. The immature has a pink beak.