Common Waxbills

[Rox]

We have had common waxbills stop over in the garden for a day or two before, but these two have been around daily for almost a month now - yay! While they may be native to Africa, it's the first time we have ever had them in our garden. Even when we stayed up North, where they are more common, we never saw a single bird in the suburbs. It's such a delight and a treat to watch these little birds right on your doorstep





And just for info sake, below is a photo of the Red-eared waxbill in my aviary. Note the complete lack of baring and solid colour. Otherwise, they seriously do look the same from a distance!

[lovezebs]

Rox
Absolutely gorgeous little birds. For quite a while I thought that they were one and the same, along with the St. Helena's, and all the other little species and subspecies that so closely resemble each other.

There are other similar little birds in other places around the world. Makes you wonder, if originally they were one species.

~Elana~

[Sally]

Delightful little birds. When I had some, I thoroughly enjoyed them, just didn't replace them once they all died off.

[Jen]

I always enjoy your photographs! Thanks for sharing...and how cool is it that they come into your garden! Wow!!! Love it!!!

[cjkrit]

They sometimes come in vast numbers and what a joy to watch them.
Here is a pic of them on our lawn.

[tobyrosie]

I like their masks.

[MariusStegmann]

I can recognize their chi-chee sound anywhere. I first hear them and then go out to see if I can see them. I saw a flock of golden breasted waxbills the other day on a winefarm in Stellenbosch. I first recognized the sound that they made, and then started to look for them.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann
Too bad you can't catch a few gold breasts and send them my way. They are so pretty and so expensive over here.

~Elana~

[Sam007]

I love the photos!

[Rox]

cjkrit so jealous I would love to see them in a flock like that!

[CHIRP]

We have a saying in South Africa, as ROX will know very well, it is " Mooi bly Mooi" one of our 11 languages, basically means Lovely is always lovely or lovely remains lovely.......... and those fit that 100%, lovely stuff indeed. I had two male Zebras in my garden last year, BUT the winter they never made it, they vanished, survived summer but not winter.

[monotwine]

MariusStegmann were they Goldbreasts or Swees? Goldbreast shouldn't be in Stellenbosch - they only occur up country naturally. Wonder if its a loose escapee flock.

[lovezebs]

CHIRP
Just curious, how cold do the winters over there get? You mentioned that the Zebras didn't survive the winter, so it had me wondering.

~Elana~

[CHIRP]

Well I am in Cape Town now this past year, and this past winter I found ice on my windshield, that's was how cold it was, I am next to the beach, it isnt normally that cold.The Zeb's never survived.UNLESS they found better digs, I made them a box under the roof but they ate in it but never stayed in it.......... I could have caught them but decided not to as they had a nice life and enjoyed freedom. Maybe they did not die, just parted ways, but anyway, it was that cold past winter, we don't get snow and stuff here. I noticed over the road at Pick n Pay that a few Zebs are in those trees in the parking lot.

[monotwine]

I think its not the cold alone. We have very wet winters, with driving cold wind for days on end. Little finches without shelter don't do well in those conditions.