Orange Cheeked Waxbill

Origin: West Africa

This is an attractive member of the waxbill family, although this one can be rather timid and shy on occasion. It is very hardy once acclimatized and has rather endearing habits, one of which is wagging its tail from side to side when excited or frightened.

Description:

Size: 10 cm (4 in)

Body: fawnish-brown. Head, crown, chin and throat: pale grey. Rump: crimson. Tail: black. Cheek patches: bright orange. Beak: red. Legs: greyish-cream.

HEN:

Very similar, but orange cheek patches are a little smaller.

Diet: (Seedeater)

Mixed millets and plain canary seed, spray millet, seeding grasses and some green food keep this species in excellent health. Grit and cuttlefish bone must always be available.

Breeding:

Pairs are not always very successful inbreeding. They sit rather fit fully, often leaving the eggs if disturbed, and fail to incubate them properly. Favored nesting sites are boxes, baskets or thick bushes in which a domed nest is constructed. Avoid disturbances.

Four eggs form the usual clutch and the incubation period is 11 days. Plenty of small live food is necessary. Aphids, if available, or fruit flies, small smooth caterpillars and fresh ants' eggs are valuable food supplies. Soaked and sprouted seed is also very beneficial.

Orange Cheeked Waxbill Breeding Tips

The following are some breeding tips for orange cheeked waxbill owners.

• The bird is not be kept in cages. If you are willing to try your hands in breeding then you are recommended to keep the birds in a well planted aviary.
• The aviary must have enough bushy cover in order to reduce the anxiety of the bird for finding a suitable place for breeding.
• You may serve them with half open boxes for helping them to build their nests. They generally build their nests in shallow bushes that are quite close to the ground.
• Their nests are usually located not more than 4 feet above the ground. They prefer to build their nests in isolated or secluded spaces to avoid intrusion by other birds.
• For building nests you may offer them with materials like coconut fibers, fine grasses and white feathers.
• If the bird manages to build a nest in a low lying bush, it creates another nest above the actual one in order to decoy other predators. This nest is known as cock’s nest.
• The cock’s egg has bee reported to be decorated with pieces of earth, stones, brown paper and similar materials. A feather is kept at the entrance of the bird in order to hide the objects kept inside the nest.
• The birds are to be constantly supplied with live food while rearing their chicks. If they do not get enough live food they may abandon their nest or simply toss their chicks out from the nest.
• You are recommended not to conduct regular nest checks as the birds get easily scared and as a result of which may abandon the nest.