Estrilda rhodopyga
E.r. rhodopyga Sudan, Ethiopia, N Somalia
E.r. centralis S Ethiopia, SE Sudan,Uganda to Tanzania, Malawi
Rosy- Rump waxbills have a dark brown-gray upper body color while the underparts are a light gray-beige color. They have a crimson eye stripe with crimson patches on the flight feathers and upper tail coverts. The beak and eyes are black while the legs are dark gray. Both sexes look identical and are often confused with Red-Ear waxbills.
Approximately 4 inches (11cm).
The Rosy-Rump Waxbill is found in Kenya, Ethiopia and southern Sudan.
Rosy-Rumps should have a diet much like that of other waxbills consisting of a small seed mix such as Finch which includes a mixture of millets and seeding grasses. This waxbill can be highly insectivorous and will benefit from
live food. Small mealworms, wax worms and fruit fly larva can be mixed in with soft food and offered daily. Fresh water, cuttlebone and grit should also be supplied at all times. Lettuce, Spinach, Chickweed, Spray Millet,
Egg food, Broccoli tops and Carrot tops can also be offered on a regular basis.
This bird is ok in a mixed aviary provided there is
plenty of room. Rosy-Rumped males housed together may become slightly
aggressive towards the same species during the breeding season.
Large planted aviary with mixed species. Some heat may be required during winter months. If they
remain in indoor aviaries year round the best temperature to maintain is 70-80 degrees.
This species is considered by some to be harder to breed than the more common Red-Ear and St. Helena Waxbills. A large planted same species aviary with low bushes and shrubs will help trigger a breeding response. If you use
handmade nest a globe shaped nest made of grasses or moss works best. Rosy-Rumps normally build their nest in low bushes so you can place handmade nest in low concealed spots with in the bush and a few up higher. The male
normally collects the nesting material and can be seen dancing with the material in his beak to his intended mate. After she accepts his offers she will began to construct the nest while he searches for more building materials. The average clutch consist of 5-6 eggs in which the parents take turns incubating for 12-14 days. The young
Rosy-Rump Waxbills emerge from the nest at about 3 weeks old with slightly duller plumage than the parents. Adult plumage is
normally acquired at 2 months of age.