The finches of family Estrildidae are small birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are closely related to the true sparrows of family Passeridae. The estrilidid finches are gregarious and often seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They vary from 8-17 cm. These finches are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colors and pattern. All the estrildids build large domed nests and lay 5–10 white eggs. Most are sensitive to cold and require a warm, usually tropical, habitat, although a few have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia.

They are not closely related to the Fringillid Finches.  [abstracted from Wikipedia]

Genus Amadina

Finch, Red-headed  Amadina erythrocephala  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Hans Hillewaert - Namibia



Genus Estrilda

Waxbill, Black-cheeked  Estrilda erythronotos  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Jerry Oldenettel - Okaukuejo, Oshikoto, Namibia


Waxbill, Common   Estrilda astrild Found: Africa, widely introduced elsewhere
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes   2) Dick Daniels on Oahu, Hawaii   3) Juan Emilio   4) Andre Simons    5) Jose Rocha.



Waxbill, Yellow-bellied aka Swee Waxbill  Estrilda melanotis  Found: Africa
Photographed by: Derek Keats
1) Male on left, femal on right




Genus Hypargos

Twinspot, Peters's  Hypargos niveoguttatus  Found: Africa
Phototgraphed by: Sandy Cole - Butterfly World in Florida



Genus Lagonosticta

Firefinch, Red-billed  Lagonosticta senegala  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) ChriKo  3) Arno Meintjes



Genus Lonchura

Mannikin, Bronze  aka Bronze Munia  Lonchura cucullata  Found: Africa, Caribbean (introduced)
Photographed by: 1) New Jersy Birds  2) Charlie Westerinen  3, 4) Dick Daniels on St. John, Virgin Islands
4) Juvenile



Genus Pytilia

Pytilia, Green-winged  Pytilia melba Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Lip Kee Yap Tsavo East, Kenya  2) Arno Meintjes
1, 2) Male.


Pytilia, Red-winged  Pytilia phoenicoptera Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes




Genus Uraeginthus

Cordon-blue, Blue-breasted  aka Blue Waxbill   Uraeginthus angolensis Found: Southern Africa
Photographed by:  1)  Paul Baker 2) dBerliner - Namibia  3) Dick Daniels - Kruger National Park, South Africa  
    4, 5, 6) Hans Hillewaert   7) Arno Meintjes



Cordon-Blue, Red-cheeked  Uraeginthus bengalus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2)  Carol Foil - Kenya  3) Darren Bellerby - Sunbird Lodge, Lake Elementatia Kenya



Grenadier, Common aka Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus granatinus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1)  Arno Meintjes  2) Alastair Rae
1, 2) Male  


Grenadier, Purple Uraeginthus ianthinogaster   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Sandy Cole - Butterfly World in Florida  2, 3) DIck Daniels - Tanzania
1, 2) Male  3) Female

Genus Viduidae

Indigobird, Village  Vidua chalybeata  Found: Africa
Photographed by Charlie Westerinen - Victoria Falls Zimbabwe


Whydah, Eastern Paradise aka Long-tailed Paradise Whydah  Vidua paradisaea  Found: Africa
1,2) Doug Janson
1) Female  2) Male


Whydah, Shaft-tailed Vidua regia Found: Africa
Photographed by: Jerry Oldenettel - Namibia