Rosey-Rump Waxbill (Crimson-Rumped Waxbill)

The rosy-rump waxbill, also known as the crimson-rumped waxbill, rosey-winged waxbill, and Sundevall’s waxbill, belongs to the group of estrildid finch. Having a brownish-gray body and a dark bill, their eyes have crimson stripes with their feathers being marked with crimson patches. These monomorphic birds (identical males and females) are sometimes mistaken with red-ear waxbills.

Crimson Rumped Waxbill

Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Estrildidae
Genus	Estrilda
Scientific Name	Estrilda rhodopyga

Rosey Rump Waxbill

Quick Information
Distribution	East Africa, South Africa, southern Sudan, Somalia, south-eastern Kenya, inner parts of Tanzania, north-eastern Uganda, Malawi, Egypt, The Democratic Republic of Congo.
Habitat	Thickets, dry marshy and bushy grasslands of Africa
Color	Crimson, fawn, beige, brownish-gray
Size	10 cm to 12 cm
Wingspan	15 cm to 16 cm
Weight	About 11 gm
Diet	Seeds and shoots of grasses
Egg hatching time	12 to 14 days
Clutch size	4 to 6 eggs
Fledging	21 days
Singing Ability	No song as such but has some breeding or warning calls.
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Color Mutations

Fawn
Red-eye striped
Grey
Yellowish-grey

Pet care

Housing

Large planted aviaries or spacious cages are required for these birds. A soft wooden perch would be a good option. You can also place a handmade nest or a nest box within the cage.

Crimson Rumped Waxbill Housing

Substrate

To ensure cleanliness, paper substrates are to be placed at the bottom of the cage and changed on a regular basis.

Temperature

A temperature of about 70°F to 80°F is essential to keep them warm, especially during the winter months. In summer, the cages or aviaries may be placed outdoors to provide them with adequate sunlight.

Crimson Rumped Waxbill Pictures

Crimson Rumped Waxbill Birds

Temperament

These birds dwell well when kept along with mixed species. The males are a bit aggressive with each other during the breeding period.

Feeding

Like other waxbills, these birds also feed well on seed mix comprising of seed grasses as well as millets. Being insectivorous, wax worms, fruit fly larva as well as mealworms can be included as a part of their diet. They should also be provided with chickweed, spinach, lettuce, broccoli tops, egg food and carrot tops. Supplying them with grit and cuttlebone ensures a good amount of calcium and vitamins. Moreover, clean water is to be provided at the bottom of the cage daily.

Crimson Rumped Waxbill Photos

Care

They should be provided with bathing water daily, while their nails should also be regularly trimmed and cleaned.

Health problems

Though no specific health problem is known, common problems like air-sac mite and egg-binding may affect them if proper care is not taken.

Crimson Rumped Waxbill Images

Interesting facts

Carl Sundevall, a Swedish ornithologist, was the first to have described this bird in 1850.
The juvenile birds have a duller look than their parents, also lacking the red stripes on their eyes.