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DESCRIPTION
4l/2 inches (11.5cm). Body brown with dark bars on upperparts
and abdomen, pinkish on underparts. Undertail coverts black. Crimson eye
band over brown eyes and red beak. Female smaller with lighter markings
and less pink on abdomen.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
St Helena Waxbill found in Africa, south of the Sahara; Madagascar, Mauritius,
St Helena and New Caledonia; also feral in Portugal and parts of Spain;
five subspecies.
HABITAT Grassland
and cultivated areas.
DIET St Helena Waxbill like Millet, with various seeds. SPECIAL NEEDS
Live food during breeding season.
CAGE LIFE
During breeding period, house just one pair in an aviary to avoid troubles.
From grass and straw, cock builds bullet-shaped nest with false chamber.
Will also use nest boxes, which should be hung high. Lays 1 to 4 white
eggs, incubation 10 to 13 days by both parents, fledging 14 to 15 days,
but parents feed for some time.
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