Estrilda caerulescens | lavender waxbill

Lavender waxbill, photo by Margie Oates

Introduced

Other Names: lavender firefinch

The lavender waxbill prefers dry areas near water sources. Keep an eye out for it feeding on seeds and insects in lawns and tall grasses. While small at 4 ½ inches long, they are noticeable by their lavender-grey body with red rump and tail. They are native to Africa.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird.