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.