Named for the vivid red plumage earned by males only after their second year and bred extensively in captivity worldwide.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyWaxbills and Allies
SizeTiny
RarityCommon
HabitatInhabits grassy areas close to thick cover in eastern and southeastern coastal Australia.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
358428approx records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
In flight, bright red rump apparent. Juvenile with red rump but otherwise olive drab with dark bill.
Behavior
Forages for grass seeds in social flocks close to dense cover, maintaining contact with thin, high calls.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Western Australia
Tasmania