Cinderella Waxbill vs Orange-cheeked Waxbill

Estrilda thomensis compared with Estrilda melpoda

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cinderella Waxbill	Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Passeriformes (Songbirds)	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Family same	Estrildidae	Estrildidae
Genus same	Estrilda	Estrilda
Species	Estrilda thomensis	Estrilda melpoda

Evolutionary Relationship

Cinderella Waxbill and Orange-cheeked Waxbill share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Estrilda.

Conservation Status

Cinderella Waxbill

LC — Least Concern

Orange-cheeked Waxbill

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cinderella Waxbill	Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cinderella Waxbill

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway.

Orange-cheeked Waxbill

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Japan), Europe (4 countries), and North America (United States).

Cinderella Waxbill

The Cinderella waxbill (Estrilda thomensis) is a small passerine bird in the family Estrildidae, endemic to São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Central Africa. It inhabits forest edges, secondary growth, gardens, and cultivated areas with dense low vegetation, where it forages for grass seeds and small invertebrates, typically in small flocks. The species shares its common name with its delicate, finely patterned plumage featuring a gray crown, red bill, dark mask, and rusty-pink flanks, suggesting an ornate appearance reminiscent of the fairy tale character. The Cinderella waxbill is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with populations considered stable on São Tomé, where it is one of the more commonly encountered endemic birds in modified habitats. São Tomé and Príncipe together represent one of Africa's most important island biodiversity hotspots, with remarkable levels of avian endemism resulting from long isolation. The island's endemic waxbill benefits from its adaptability to secondary and garden habitats, tolerating a degree of human land use. Conservation of remaining native forest on São Tomé is critical for the many forest-dependent endemic species on the island. The species is occasionally kept by aviculturalists but is not a major target of the wild bird trade.

Orange-cheeked Waxbill

A charming small estrildid finch with an unmistakable orange cheek patch set against a grey head, brown back, and pale white underparts, orange-cheeked waxbills are native to the humid forests and forest edges of West and Central Africa. They feed on small grass and weed seeds, often near water. Widely kept as aviary birds, they have established feral populations in parts of Puerto Rico, Europe, and Asia. Active and social, they pair bond strongly.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway