Granatina granatina
The beautiful Violet-eared Waxbill is a small seed-eating bird that occurs only in southern Africa. In our country they’re distributed from the Northern Cape to the Lowveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, occurring in a wide range of savanna-type habitats but being more common in the drier reaches of their range. The IUCN considers this species to be of least concern.
Violet-eared Waxbills form monogamous pairs that apparently last life-long. Both partners work on the construction of the oval-shaped nest (usually built among dense foliage in a tree or shrub) using mostly grass stems and other soft and easily pliable materials. They may breed at any time of year, though there’s a definite peak in the summer and autumn months when most kinds of grasses go to seed. Clutches may include up to 7 eggs (more usually about 4) and are incubated by both parents for about 2 weeks. The chicks grow quickly and fledge before they’re even 3 weeks old. Fully grown they weigh about 12g and measure around 14cm in length and may live to about 8 years old.
Violet-eared Waxbills are often seen with blue waxbills and are used as breeding hosts by pin-tailed whydahs.
DeWetsWild 
They have such pretty plumage, Dries!
Eye-catching in the extreme, Siobhan!
Ai de Wet, ek wens soms jy was vir ñ tydjie hier om my te help met die voëls! Ek kom nie reg nie, voel dom.
Jy moet miskien bietjie voelkykers spesifiek uitnooi om daar by julle te kom oorslaap, Una – daar duik gereeld onverwagte geveerdes langs die Mosambiekse kus op en baie mense sal dan alles net so los en kom kyk. (En dan kan jy bietjie oor hulle skouers loer en so saam-saam leer!)
Tot dan, sit sommer foto’s op jou blog dan help ek waar ek kan!
Ag, maar dis ‘n mooi kleurvolle voëltjie – lyk amper soos ‘n inkleurboek se bladsye!
Veral die mannetjie se kleure is regtig helder en hulle staan nogal uit!
Hmm, altyd die mannetjies …
I can’t get over those amazing colours!
I’m almost certain there’s a lorikeet in Australia with a similar combination of bright colours, Tracy. Do you know which?
We have the Rainbow lorikeet which is a rather aggressive parrot. Very colourful. However, I think you might be thinking of the Gouldian Finch, Dries. They live in savannah woodlands in northern Australia. They are rare and endangered now. 😞
I’m sure their beauty has played some part in the Gouldian Finch’s rarity. They’re even for sale as pets here in South Africa!
I found the parrot I was thinking of: The Red Lory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_lory#/media/File:Eos_bornea_-Taronga_Zoo,_Sydney,_Australia-8a_(1).jpg_
Yes, many Gouldian finches were trapped. In the wild, poor fire management is a threat to their food source.
There are many GF breeders here too, Dries.
I have never heard of Red Lory before! How interesting.
The most beautiful of waxbills.
Certainly the case in our country, Michael. I’m not at all sure whether there might be more colourful species deeper into Africa.
Lovely colors and a name that made me smile.
Imagined it with a flower on the side of its head, did you Janet?
What a beauty!!
Definitely! Bright and beautiful!
Obviously, I have a thing for Waxbills. What a gorgeous bird!
I agree with you wholeheartedly about waxbills, Lois!