Black-cheeked waxbill

  • SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brunhilda charmosyna

  • SWAHILI NAME: Mshigi Uso-mweusi

Sporting black masks and striped wings, these perky finches are one of several colorful waxbills that are kept as pets.

Black-cheeked waxbill

Black-cheeked waxbill

Type

Bird

Daily Rhythm

Diurnal

Diet

Omnivorous

Weight

8-10 gm

Size

11-12 cm

Black-cheeked waxbill

Trivia Question

Why can waxbills perch so well on branches?

Correct!

Three toes pointing forward and one pointing backwards facilitate perching.

Social Structure

Gregarious by nature, these birds have been seen in pairs and in groups of up to 20.

Communication

Black-cheeked waxbills call with dry cheeps and rattling trills.

Behavior

Similar to other finches, they are very social when they are not breeding.

Conservation

Least concern

Diet

While it prefers grass seeds and millet that it gathers on the ground, this waxbill also feeds on insects, fruits, and fruit blossoms.

Breeding

Like other waxbills, this species becomes territorial while breeding. They build round nests with entrance tubes out of grass and then use feathers to line the interior. Both parents incubate their eggs and help tend to the chicks after they hatch.

Friends & Foes

Birds of prey, snakes, and mammals can threaten waxbills.

Population in Kenya

Black-cheeked waxbills are year-round residents in much of Kenya.

Range & Habitat

Black-cheeked waxbills are found in eastern Africa.

This waxbill frequents semiarid bush at elevations ranging from 100 to 1600 meters.

Did you know?

While black-cheeked waxbills have many attractive traits for bird owners, they are difficult to breed in captivity.