The swee waxbill (Coccopygia melanotis), is a common species of estrildid finch native to Southern Africa.
| Swee waxbill | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Coccopygia |
| Species: | C. melanotis
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| Binomial name | |
| Coccopygia melanotis (Temminck, 1823)
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| Synonyms | |
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Estrilda melanotis | |
Description and subspecies edit
The swee waxbill is 9–10 cm long with a grey head and breast, pale yellow belly, olive back and wings, red lower back and rump, and a black tail. The upper mandible is black and the lower red. The male has a black face, but the female's face is grey. Juveniles are much duller than the female and have an all-black bill.
Habitat and behaviour edit
The swee waxbill is typically found in uplands in dry shrubland and open forest habitats. Some subspecies also occur in lowlands, and may be seen in large gardens.
This species is a common and tame bird typically seen in small parties, and does not form large flocks. The swee waxbill's call is typically considered a soft swee, swee.
References edit
- ^ BirdLife International 2017. Coccopygia melanotis (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T103814997A111171446. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103814997A111171446.en. Downloaded on 21 August 2019.
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Clement, Harris and Davis, Finches and Sparrows ISBN 0-7136-8017-2