Scientific name: Estrilda astrild (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Finches and Crossbills
Field characters. 11 cm. Larger than Red Avadavat, with conspicuous red bill and face-patch. Upperparts and flanks grey-brown with dark vermiculation; throat and cheeks pale grey; underparts rufous; vent blackish. Female and juvenile duller than male.
Voice. Song trisyllabic: "cher-cher-preee". Contact call a buzzing "zep".
Distribution. Introduced in Portugal and Spain. Originates from Africa.
Habitat. Tall grass, reedbeds.
Food. Grass seeds, occasionally small insects.