Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission. Kinshasa, Dec 2010

Bird name: Blue Waxbill
Latin: Uraeginthus angolensis
Other: Blue-breasted Cordon Bleu • Southern Cordon-bleu
Family: Estrildidae • Cordon-bleus

Many of the African birds seem to go by several English names. This little guy is known as the Southern Cordon-bleu, or Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu, or Blue Waxbill.

Above, near a waterfall near Kinshasa, DRC. (It looks very similar to female Red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu but Blue Waxbill is the common type in Kinshasa)

Below, a Blue Waxbill, seen in the hotel grounds in Luanda Angola.

More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Kinshasa, DRC, Dec 2010

Bird name: Bronze Mannikin
Latin: Lonchura cucullata
Other: Bronze Munia
Family: Estrildidae • Munias
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa

This Bronze Mannikin was seen with Weavers and Cordon-Bleus, near a waterfall near Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bronze Mannikin is the name used by the IOC, but Bronze Munia is also very common.

It has a small emerald patch on the shoulder.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Zebra Finch
Latin: Taeniopygia guttata
Other:
Family: Estrilidae • Estrildid Finches
Range: Lesser Sundas, Central Australia

The Zebra Finches pictured are zoo birds, but their natural habitat is Australia and neighbouring Indonesia. The orange cheek above indicates an adult male. Females lack the orange patch but so do some males.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Indian Silverbill
Latin: Lonchura malabarica
Other: White Throated Munia
Family: Estrilidae • Estrildid Finches
Range: India, Sri Lanka, Asia, SC Asia + S France etc.

Another introduced species, the small Indian Silverbill is common in Nice, and nests among the reeds. Quite easy to see, as it is not shy. Probably originally from escaped cagebirds.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Bengalese Finch
Latin: Lonchura striata domestica
Other: Society Finch, White-rumped Munia, White-rumped Mannikin, Striated Finch
Family: Estrildidae • Munias
Range: Domestic

This is a domestic hybrid Munia, descended from the White-rumped Munia L. striata.

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lake Victoria, Oct 2009

Bird name: Blue Capped Cordon Bleu
Latin: Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Other:
Family: Estrildidae • Cordon-bleus

And one slightly blurry shot of a Blue-capped Cordon-Bleu seen at Lake Victoria in Tanzania. This bird is native to East Africa.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Tanzania, Oct 2009

Bird name: Purple Grenadier
Latin: Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Other:
Family: Estrildidae • Estrildid Finches

A couple of record shots of a male Purple Grenadier taken near Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, by André, showing the main distinguishing features.More photos...