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We came across these pretty little birds foraging around at the waters edge at Sunset Dam last week.
Unfortunately we did not get the greatest pic of them but I think they are the Redbilled firefinches which I had never seen before.

Yes, those are Red-billed Firefinches. If there are females amongst them they are easy to tell apart from Jamieson's and Blue-billed in that the females have very little reddish colouration (mostly confined to the bill area and the rump). If you are in the Okavango delta, though, be careful of confusing the female Red-billed with Brown Firefinches - the difference is the red rump of the Red-billed.

I find it extremely difficault to photograph these fire finches. I think you did extremely well to get a shot of it. Well done.

Thanks for the confirmation!!
Its not easy I agree as they are such active little birds, but can still kick ourselves for not putting on the bigger lens earlier and by the time we did they had moved away.
I can't seem to find a picture of the female in any of my books but could the mainly LBJ on the left in our pic be the female?
They also seemed to be in a mixed group of Blue Waxbills.

It might very well be a female, yes.

I have always find them in close proximity to the blue wax bills, especially on the Bushman's trail. Other places I have seen them was in the Biyamithi weir area.

Hah! Good things comes to those who wait.

Wonder if thats a CGF feather in its bill

I didnt want to mention it, but yes, I'll bet you it is. Why wouldn't it be? The firefinch probbie devoured the last one in Pafuri as I came around the bend. Wiping his beak with the remains.

Last week I went to KNP with my parents and we travelled from the South to North and then back again. Before I do a trip report, could you please help me with a few bird IDs? Please click on the link for larger pix...
Date for all pix: 22-28 June 2008


Place: Orpen Camp (in the dark)
Habitat: By a bird bath surrounded by dense bush with another one.
Size: about 10cm
I think it is a Redbilled Firefinch female?

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1964/1002397or2.jpg

My two cents for what it is worth.

The red on the lower mandible rules out the other contenders, African and Jameson's Firefinches. The red lore points to a female, yes.

Well done CS!

This would be a female if I've got it right?



(Quite a crop yes... )

I would say young male, as there are development of red feathers on fore-crown and on chin evident.

First three cropped a bit.

Taken just before dusk near Shingwedzi, May 2008.

Yet another beautiful little bird!

I have more for ID help: