Estrildidae

Estrildidae, or estrildid finches, is a family of small seed-eating passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They comprise species commonly known as munias, mannikins, firefinches, parrotfinches and waxbills.

They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colours and patterns.

All estrildids build large, domed nests and lay five to ten white eggs. Many species build roost nests. Some of the firefinches and pytilias are hosts to the brood-parasitic indigobirds and whydahs, respectively.

Most are sensitive to cold and require warm, usually tropical, habitats, although a few, such as the eastern alpine mannikin, mountain firetail, red-browed finch, and the genus Stagonopleura, have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia and the highlands of New Guinea.

The smallest species of the family is the Shelley's oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) at a mere , although the lightest species is the black-rumped waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes) at . The largest species is the Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora) at and .

Taxonomy

The family Estrildidae was introduced in 1850 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte as "Estreldinae", a spelling variant of the subfamily name. In the list of world birds maintained by AviList the family contains 138 species divided into 39 genera. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown the family Estrildidae is sister to the family Viduidae containing the indigobirds and whydahs. The two families diverged around 15.5 million year ago. The most recent common ancestor of the Estrildidae is estimated to have lived around 10.9 million years ago. A genetic study of the Estrildidae by Urban Olsson and Per Alström published in 2020 identified 6 major clades. The radiations within these clades occurred between 4.5 and 8.9 million years ago. The authors proposed that each of these clades should be treated as a subfamily. This contrasts with an earlier proposal in which the family was divided into three subfamilies. The following cladogram is based on a study of the Estrildidae by Urban Olsson and Per Alström published in 2020. The locust finch in the genus Paludipasser was not included in the study.

Genera list

Image	Genus	Living species
File:Pictorella munia taronga zoo.jpg	Heteromunia Mathews, 1913	Pictorella mannikin, Heteromunia pectoralis
File:Mountain Firetail.jpg	Oreostruthus De Vis, 1898	Mountain firetail, Oreostruthus fuliginosus
File:Stagonopleura bella female - Melaleuca.jpg	Stagonopleura Reichenbach, 1850	Beautiful firetail, Stagonopleura bella Red-eared firetail, Stagonopleura oculata Diamond firetail, Stagonopleura guttata
File:Red-browed Finch - Penrith.jpg	Neochmia Gray, GR, 1849	Red-browed finch, Neochmia temporalis Crimson finch, Neochmia phaeton
File:Emblema pictum -Karratha, Pilbara, Western Australia, Australia-8.jpg	Emblema Gould, 1842	Painted finch, Emblema pictum Star finch, Emblema ruficauda Plum-headed finch, Emblema modesta
File:Taeniopygia bichenovii 2 - Glen Davis.jpg	Stizoptera Oberholser, 1899	Double-barred finch, Stizoptera bichenovii
File:Taeniopygia guttata -Karratha, Pilbara, Western Australia, Australia -male-8 (2).jpg	Taeniopygia Reichenbach, 1862	Sunda zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata Australian zebra finch, Taeniopygia castanotis
File:Poephila acuticauda - Bird Walk.jpg	Poephila Gould, 1842	Masked finch, Poephila personata Long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda Black-throated finch, Poephila cincta
File:Mannikin Bronze 2007 04 08 0545b, crop.jpg	Spermestes Swainson, 1837	Grey-headed silverbill, Spermestes griseicapilla Bronze mannikin, Spermestes cucullata, also known as bronze munia Magpie mannikin, Spermestes fringilloides, also known as magpie munia Black-and-white mannikin, Spermestes bicolor, also known as black-and-white munia
File:Madagascar Munia - Madagascar S4E6942 (22568997107).jpg	Lepidopygia Reichenbach, 1862	Madagascar mannikin, Lepidopygia nana
File:Indian Silverbill RWD12d.jpg	Euodice Reichenbach, 1862	African silverbill, Euodice cantans Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica also known as white-throated munia
File:Padda oryzivora -University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA-8.jpg	Padda Reichenbach, 1850	Java sparrow, Padda oryzivora Timor sparrow, Padda fuscata
	Mayrimunia Wolters, 1949	Streak-headed mannikin, Mayrimunia tristissima White-spotted mannikin, Mayrimunia cinereovinacea
File:Lonchura atricapilla jagori -Cebu-8-3c.jpg	Lonchura Sykes, 1832	Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata, also known as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch Black-throated munia, Lonchura kelaarti, also known as Jerdon's mannikin Black-faced munia, Lonchura molucca White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata Dusky munia, Lonchura fuscans White-bellied munia, Lonchura leucogastra New Hanover mannikin, Lonchura nigerrima Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla White-capped munia, Lonchura ferruginosa White-headed munia, Lonchura maja Pale-headed munia, Lonchura pallida Great-billed mannikin, Lonchura grandis Black-breasted mannikin, Lonchura teerinki Western alpine mannikin, Lonchura montana Eastern alpine mannikin, Lonchura monticola Grey-banded mannikin, Lonchura vana Grey-crowned mannikin, Lonchura nevermanni Hooded mannikin, Lonchura spectabilis Mottled mannikin, Lonchura hunsteini New Hanover mannikin, Lonchura nigerrima Forbes's mannikin, Lonchura forbesi Javan munia, Lonchura leucogastroides Yellow-rumped mannikin, Lonchura flaviprymna Five-colored munia, Lonchura quinticolor Chestnut-breasted mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax Black mannikin, Lonchura stygia Buff-bellied mannikin, Lonchura melaena
File:Gouldian Finch (Bird enclosure) Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, Queensland (32149977195).jpg	Chloebia Reichenbach, 1862	Gouldian finch, Chloebia gouldiae
File:Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch.JPG	Erythrura Swainson, 1837	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
File:NesocharisShelleyiGronvold.jpg	Nesocharis Alexander, 1903	White-collared oliveback, Nesocharis ansorgei Shelley's oliveback, Nesocharis shelleyi
File:Swee waxbill 2008 05 18 14 08 26 5958.jpg	Coccopygia Reichenbach, 1862	Yellow-bellied waxbill, Coccopygia quartinia Swee waxbill, Coccopygia melanotis Angola waxbill, Coccopygia bocagei
File:Green twinspot 2014 10 19 1056.jpg	Mandingoa Hartert, E, 1919	Green-backed twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula
File:Abyssinian Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii) (male).jpg	Cryptospiza Salvadori, 1884	Red-faced crimsonwing, Cryptospiza reichenovii Abyssinian crimsonwing, Cryptospiza salvadorii Dusky crimsonwing, Cryptospiza jacksoni Shelley's crimsonwing, Cryptospiza shelleyi
File:Redfrontedantpeckerfemale.jpg	Parmoptila Cassin, 1859	Red-fronted antpecker, Parmoptila rubrifrons Jameson's antpecker, Parmoptila jamesoni – often included in P. rubrifrons Woodhouse's antpecker, Parmoptila woodhousei
File:Uganda 2011 246-crop.jpg	Nigrita Strickland, 1843	White-breasted nigrita, Nigrita fusconotus Chestnut-breasted nigrita, Nigrita bicolor Pale-fronted nigrita, Nigrita luteifrons Grey-headed nigrita, Nigrita canicapillus
File:Grey-headed Oliveback, Poli, Cameroon (5891711500).jpg	Delacourella Wolters, 1949	Grey-headed oliveback, Delacourella capistrata
File:Black-faced waxbill, or black-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda erythronotos, at Zaagkuildrift Road near Kgomo Kgomo, Limpopo, South Africa (33418486332).jpg	Brunhilda Reichenbach, 1862	Black-faced waxbill, Brunhilda erythronotos Black-cheeked waxbill, Brunhilda charmosyna
File:Lavender waxbill (Estrilda caerulescens).jpg	Glaucestrilda Roberts, 1922	Lavender waxbill, Glaucestrilda caerulescens Grey waxbill, Glaucestrilda perreini Cinderella waxbill, Glaucestrilda thomensis
File:Estrilda astrild -Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain-8 (1).jpg	Estrilda Swainson, 1827	Black-crowned waxbill, Estrilda nonnula Black-headed waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla Kandt's waxbill, Estrilda kandti Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda Anambra waxbill, Estrilda poliopareia Fawn-breasted waxbill, Estrilda paludicola Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild Black-lored waxbill, Estrilda nigriloris Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes Crimson-rumped waxbill, Estrilda rhodopyga Arabian waxbill, Estrilda rufibarba
File:Flickr - Rainbirder - African Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis) male.jpg	Ortygospiza Sundevall, 1850	Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
	Paludipasser Neave, 1909	Locust finch, Paludipasser locustella
File:Amadina erythrocephala (l) edit.jpg	Amadina Swainson, 1827	Cut-throat finch, Amadina fasciata Red-headed finch, Amadina erythrocephala
File:Amandava amandava (VijayCavale).jpg	Amandava Blyth, 1836	Red avadavat, Amandava amandava also known as red munia Green avadavat, Amandava formosa Orange-breasted waxbill, Amandava subflava
File:Violet-eared waxbill, Uraeginthus granatinus, at Pilanesberg National Park, Northwest Province, South Africa (28037408514).jpg	Granatina Sharpe, 1890	Purple grenadier, Granatina ianthinogaster Violet-eared waxbill, Granatina granatina
File:Red-cheeked cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus bengalus) male.jpg	Uraeginthus Cabanis, 1851	Blue waxbill, Uraeginthus angolensis Red-cheeked cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus bengalus Blue-capped cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
File:Western Bluebill m - Gambia (32528245061).jpg	Spermophaga Swainson, 1837	Grant's bluebill, Spermophaga poliogenys Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina Red-headed bluebill, Spermophaga ruficapilla
File:Black-bellied Seedcracker - near Kakum NP - Ghana 14 S4E2847.jpg	Pyrenestes Swainson, 1837	Crimson seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus Black-bellied seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus Lesser seedcracker, Pyrenestes minor
File:Green-winged Pytilia, Pytilia melba at Pilanesberg National Park, Northwest Province, South Africa (17303689060).jpg	Pytilia Swainson, 1837	Orange-winged pytilia, Pytilia afra Red-winged pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera Red-billed pytilia, Pytilia lineata Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba Yellow-winged pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica
File:Bloedel Conservatory Bird (34984419890).jpg	Euschistospiza Wolters, 1943	Dybowski's twinspot, Euschistospiza dybowskii Dusky twinspot, Euschistospiza cinereovinacea
File:Peters's Twinspot, Sakania, DRC (9999020853).jpg	Hypargos Reichenbach, 1862	Red-throated twinspot, Hypargos niveoguttatus Pink-throated twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus
File:Brown Twinspot - Budongo - Uganda 06 4823 (22998376511).jpg	Clytospiza Shelley, 1896	Brown twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
File:Red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala senegala) male.jpg	Lagonosticta Cabanis, 1851	Bar-breasted firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta Brown firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala Black-bellied firefinch, Lagonosticta rara African firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata Jameson's firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia Mali firefinch, Lagonosticta virata Rock firefinch, Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis Black-faced firefinch, Lagonosticta larvata Chad firefinch, Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis

External links

• Zipcode Zoo: Estrildidae
• Internet Bird Collection.com: Estrildidae videos, photos and sounds
• Waxbill Finch Society — specialist waxbill bird society based in the UK