The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the old world tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows.
They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern.
All the estrildids build large domed nests and lay 5-10 white eggs. Many species build roost nests Some of the fire-finches and pytilias are hosts to the brood parasitic indigobirds and whydahs respectively.
Most are sensitive to cold and require a warm, usually tropical, habitat, although a few have become adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia.
Species list
- Antpeckers, genus Parmoptila
- Jameson's Antpecker, Parmoptila rubrifrons
- Woodhouse's Antpecker, Parmoptila woodhousei
- Negrofinches, genus Nigrita
- White-breasted Negrofinch, Nigrita fusconota
- Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Nigrita bicolor
- Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Nigrita luteifrons
- Grey-headed Negrofinch, Nigrita canicapilla
- Olivebacks, genus Nesocharis
- White-collared Oliveback, Nesocharis ansorgei
- Fernando Po Oliveback, Nesocharis shelleyi
- Grey-headed Oliveback, Nesocharis capistrata
- Pytilias, genus Pytilia
- Orange-winged Pytilia, Pytilia afra
- Red-winged Pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera
- Green-winged Pytilia, Pytilia melba
- Red-faced Pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica
- Green-backed Twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula
- Crimson-wings, genus Cryptospiza
- Red-faced Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza reichenovii
- Abyssinian Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza salvadorii
- Dusky Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza jacksoni
- Shelley's Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza shelleyi
- Seedcrackers, genus Pyrenestes
- Crimson Seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus
- Black-bellied Seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus
- Lesser Seedcracker, Pyrenestes minor
- Bluebills, genus Spermophaga
- Grant's Bluebill, Spermophaga poliogenys
- Western Bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
- Red-headed Bluebill, Spermophaga ruficapilla
- Twinspots, genera Clytospiza, Hypargos, Euschistospiza
- Brown Twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
- Peters' Twinspot, Hypargos niveoguttatus
- Pink-throated Twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus
- Dybowski's Twinspot, Euschistospiza dybowskii
- Dusky Twinspot, Euschistospiza cinereovinacea
- Firefinches, genus Lagonosticta
- Bar-breasted Firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta
- Brown Firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula
- Red-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala
- Black-bellied Firefinch, Lagonosticta rara
- African Firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata
- Pale-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta landanae
- Jameson's Firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia
- Mali Firefinch, Lagonosticta virata
- Rock Firefinch, Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis
- Black-faced Firefinch, Lagonosticta larvata
- Reichenow's Firefinch, Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis
- Cordon-bleus, genus Uraeginthus
- Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus angolensis
- Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus bengalus
- Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
- Purple Grenadier, Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
- Violet-eared Waxbill, Uraeginthus granatina
- Waxbills, genus Estrilda
- Lavender Waxbill, Estrilda caerulescens
- Black-tailed Waxbill, Estrilda perreini
- Cinderella Waxbill, Estrilda thomensis
- Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Estrilda quartinia
- Swee Waxbill, Estrilda melanotis
- Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Estrilda paludicola
- Anambra Waxbill, Estrilda poliopareia
- Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
- Arabian Waxbill, Estrilda rufibarba
- Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Estrilda rhodopyga
- Black-rumped Waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes
- Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild
- Black-faced Waxbill, Estrilda nigriloris
- Black-crowned Waxbill, Estrilda nonnula
- Black-headed Waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla
- Black-cheeked Waxbill, Estrilda erythronotos
- Red-rumped Waxbill, Estrilda charmosyna
- Avadavats, genus Amandava
- Red Avadavat, Amandava amandava
- Green Avadavat, Amandava formosa
- Zebra Waxbill, Amandava subflava
- Quailfinches, genus Ortygospiza
- Red-billed Quailfinch, Ortygospiza gabonensis
- African Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
- Locustfinch, Ortygospiza locustella
- Firetails, genera Emblema, Stagonopleura, Oreostruthus, Neochmia
- Painted Firetail, Emblema pictum
- Beautiful Firetail, Stagonopleura bella
- Red-eared Firetail, Stagonopleura oculata
- Diamond Firetail, Stagonopleura guttata
- Mountain Firetail, Oreostruthus fuliginosus
- Red-browed Firetail, Neochmia temporalis
- Crimson Finch, Neochmia phaeton
- Star Finch, Neochmia ruficauda
- Plum-headed Finch, Neochmia modesta
- Zebra Finches, genera Taeniopygia, Poephila
- Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata
- Chestnut-eared Finch, Taeniopygia castanotis
- Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii
- Masked Finch, Poephila personata
- Long-tailed Finch, Poephila acuticauda
- Black-throated Finch, Poephila cincta
- Parrotfinches, genus Erythrura
- Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, Erythrura hyperythra
- Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, Erythrura prasina
- Green-faced Parrotfinch, Erythrura viridifacies
- Tricolored Parrotfinch, Erythrura tricolor
- Blue-faced Parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa
- Red-eared Parrotfinch, Erythrura coloria
- Papuan Parrotfinch, Erythrura papuana
- Red-throated Parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea
- Fiji Parrotfinch, Erythrura pealii
- Red-headed Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens
- Royal Parrotfinch, Erythrura regia
- Pink-billed Parrotfinch, Erythrura kleinschmidti
- Gouldian Finch, Chloebia gouldiae
- Munias and Silverbills, genus Lonchura
- Madagascar Munia, Lonchura nana
- African Silverbill, Lonchura cantans
- White-throated Munia, Lonchura malabarica
- Grey-headed Silverbill, Lonchura griseicapilla
- Bronze Mannikin, Lonchura cucullata
- Black-and-white Mannikin, Lonchura bicolor
- Brown-backed Mannikin, Lonchura nigriceps
- Magpie Mannikin, Lonchura fringilloides
- White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata
- Javan Munia, Lonchura leucogastroides
- Dusky Munia, Lonchura fuscans
- Black-faced Munia, Lonchura molucca
- Black-throated Munia, Lonchura kelaarti
- Nutmeg Mannikin, Lonchura punctulata
- White-bellied Munia, Lonchura leucogastra
- Streak-headed Munia, Lonchura tristissima
- Black-headed Munia, Lonchura malacca
- Chestnut Munia, Lonchura atricapilla
- White-capped Munia, Lonchura ferruginosa
- Cream-bellied Munia, Lonchura pallidiventer
- Five-colored Munia, Lonchura quinticolor
- White-headed Munia, Lonchura maja
- Pale-headed Munia, Lonchura pallida
- Grand Munia, Lonchura grandis
- Grey-banded Munia, Lonchura vana
- Grey-crowned Munia, Lonchura nevermanni
- Hooded Munia, Lonchura spectabilis
- Grey-headed Munia, Lonchura caniceps
- Mottled Munia, Lonchura hunsteini
- New Ireland Munia, Lonchura forbesi
- New Hanover Munia, Lonchura nigerrima
- Yellow-rumped Munia, Lonchura flaviprymna
- Chestnut-breasted Munia, Lonchura castaneothorax
- Black Munia, Lonchura stygia
- Black-breasted Munia, Lonchura teerinki
- Snow Mountain Munia, Lonchura montana
- Alpine Munia, Lonchura monticola
- Bismarck Munia, Lonchura melaena
- Pictorella Munia, Heteromunia pectoralis
- Java Sparrows, genus Padda
- Java Sparrow, Padda oryzivora
- Timor Sparrow, Padda fuscata
- Cut-throats, genus Amadina
- Cut-throat, Amadina fasciata
- Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala
