Blue Waxbill

Uraeginthus angolensis - The Blue Waxbill

The Blue Waxbill is a small, slender powder-blue bird, smaller than a sparrow. The bill is short and conical and pinkish-grey in colour. The crown, back of the head and back are light brown.

Did you know? The Afrikaans name for the Blue Waxbill is Blousysie.

The rump is light blue and the face and upper breast are light blue. In the male the underparts, save for the belly centre and under-tail coverts are bright sky blue. In the female, the blue extends only onto the breast and flanks, and the belly is off-white.

Size

Length: 12 cm.
Weight: 8 to 13 g.

Habitat

Woodlands and grasslands with shrubs.

Distribution

Common in north-eastern South Africa, in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and parts of the KwaZulu Natal province.

Diet

Plants, seeds and grass are supplemented with termites, caterpillars and other small insects.

Socialisation

Usually seen in loose parties or in pairs when breeding, Blue Waxbills are often in the company of other small seedeaters. They will fly into the nearest tree when disturbed.

Reproduction

They breed mainly from December to May. The nest, which is built by both sexes, is built from green, flowering grass stems and lined with feathers. It looks like a small round ball and has a short spout like entrance on the side.

2 to 7 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents. Once hatched, both parents feed the chicks with termites and grass seeds. The hatchlings are ready to care for themselves after about a week, and with leave the nest permanently at 2 to 3 weeks of age.

Incubation

Incubation lasts for 12 days.

Life Expectancy

5 to 7 years.

Predators

Blue-waxbills are prey of the African goshawk and some owls.

References

Biodiversity Explorer; Sasol Birds of South Africa (Fourth Edition)