Amadina fasciata
The Cut-throat Finch is a common, though inconspicuous, inhabitant of Africa’s savannas and open woodlands, occurring in a band through the Sahel from Senegal to Ethiopia and thence southwards to South Africa, where they are to be found in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and parts of the North West Province. Given its wide distribution and relative abundance, the IUCN considers the Cut-throat Finch to be of least concern though sadly these birds are targeted by the cagebird trade. Seeds and termites form the majority of this finch’s diet – they are subject to nomadic movements in response to the rains and resultant increase in their favourite foods through their range. They require access to reliable water sources.
These small finches; they weigh only about 18g, are found in pairs or small flocks, often associating with other small seed-eating birds. In the breeding season, which spans the summer and autumn months, monogamous Cut-throat Finch pairs use the abandoned nests of other birds, especially weavers, to nest in, laying clutches of 2-7 eggs that hatch after a two-week long incubation period in which both parents take part. The chicks leave the nest about 3 weeks after hatching.
Hybrids between the Cut-throat Finch and the closely-related Red-headed Finch has been recorded in areas where their distribution overlaps.
DeWetsWild 
That’s rather a gory name for this innocuous little bird. He sounds like such a brigand of the worst order. 😅 Beautiful photos as always, Dries. 😍
Thank you very much, Sylvia! Indeed, one can almost imagine other little birds scaring their babies into behaving with scary stories of old “Cutthroat Finch”!
Ten minste feature die common nie in sy naam nie. Pragtige fotos Dries. Hoop dit gaan nog goed met my naam of is dit vangenoot Joubert.
Baie dankie, Abrie, vir die gawe woorde en ook die besorgdheid. Joubert doen goed en gelukkig bied sy skool n e-leer opsie vir hoe risiko leerlinge so hy raak nie agter met die skoolwerk nie.
Hoe gaan dit met jul gesin en spesifiek jou vrou?
My oudste dogter het pas haar eerste aanlyn eksamen reeks voltooi en dink dit het goed gegaan. My ander dogter (graad 11) gaan Maandag terug skool toe – sal sien hoe dit verloop. My vrou is baie moeg in aande. Sy toets nou gereeld werknemers met Covid 19 simptome. Op ‘n stadium ie mens na 14 dae weer getoets indien jy positief was. Daar word egter nou te veel mense getoets (nie genoeg testing kits nie). Indien positief word hulle nie weer getoets na 14 dae nie maar hulle bly by die huis tot dag 19
Elke keer wat ek lees van die mediese personeel se struikelblokke in hierdie tyd stuur ek vir jou vrou n skietgebedjie op.
Dankie Dries
Beautiful birds, strong name!
No one’s going to mess with him on the playground!
Ha!
What an interesting name, and now that I’m here I understand why! Thanks for the smile, and for the many photos of this species!!!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Lisa!
Lovely photos. So sad that the caged bird trade persists. Birds should be able to fly free.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Carol. I don’t think the people eventually purchasing the birds from a store has any idea how many, many more perished due to them supporting that trade.
It good to try to raise awareness at least.
I have yet to see one, so your photographs are a pleasure to look at!
Thank you very much, Anne!
Beautiful birds! Stunning red marking, thus the name. Great post, Dries.
Thank you very much, Jane. The name fits so properly that it would’ve seemed odd calling them anything else.
Poor timing for me. I just read an account of a murder and then came across this title. WOW!
Not only that, but my maiden name is Finch. Hey, it’s not even Halloween.
Wouldn’t “Cut-throat Finch” have been an excellent name for a dreaded pirate, Beth!?
What a startling little bird. Catching a flash of that red at the neck makes one look twice.
It is really eye-catching, ins’t it Tracy? I suspect it has the same effect on the females of the species.
The girls are probably thinking they need to go and help out the injured one.
😀
The red throat is distinctive and beautiful. I like the design of the black patterns a lot.
A pair of these little ones is beautiful to observe from up close, Janet
What a name! Couldn’t they find something better? Great post, D. I’m just kidding. 🙂
😀
Some birds don’t deserve their “descriptive” names but this little fellow got what he deserves!