Red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala)

Cover image of Red-headed Finch by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape

The Red-headed Finch belongs to the family ESTRILDIDAE, along with twinspots, firefinches, waxbills, pytilias, and mannikins, etc. They are all small, seed-eating passerine birds. They are gregarious and often colonial granivores with short, conical, but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colour and patterns. Despite the word “finch” being included in the common names of some species, they are not closely related to birds with this name in other families.

Identification

The Red-headed Finch is a small, gregarious species with clear sexual dimorphism.

Males are easily recognised by their bright red heads, heavy, conical bills, and white scale-like spotting on the undersides. The red head fades to orangish-red when the feathers are old and worn. The mantle, back and folded wings are greyish brown. On the folded wings there are two lines of white spots formed by the pale-tipped covert feathers. The rump is darker grey-brown and faintly barred. The upper tail coverts carry dark subterminal bars with whitish tips. The tail is also greyish-brown with white outer tail tips.

The breast and flanks are tawny-brown with scattered white spots, each spot is outlined with black, giving a scaled or scalloped appearance. The lower belly is white and the undertail coverts are barred black, white and brown.

Females resemble the males but differ in having a plain brownish-grey head, (sometimes with a hint of red on the hind crown and nape). The underparts are tawny-brown and uniformly barred in dark brown, lacking the black-edged white spots of the male. Juveniles are similar to their respective adults, but are duller. The juvenile male only shows traces of red on the head.

In both sexes the heavy, conical bill is pale horn-coloured. The eyes brown and the legs and feet are pinkish brown.

Male Red-headed Finch are most likely to be mistaken for the Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops), but the latter lacks the distinctive scalloped spotting on the underparts. Females most resemble the Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) but that species has a barred (not plain) crown and nape, and a conspicuously mottled (not plain brown) mantle.

Status and Distribution

The Red-headed Finch is a common to very common resident and nomad. It is near-endemic to southern Africa.

It occurs from Luanda in Angola, south to South Africa. In southern Africa, the Red-headed Finch is widespread in Namibia, Botswana, and the central regions of South Africa. It is also found in south-western Zimbabwe where it is less common. The Red-headed Finch is virtually absent from the winter rainfall region and the more humid coastal areas and lowlands in the east.

The Red-headed Finch is not threatened. It has benefitted greatly from livestock watering points in arid areas and as a result has likely expanded its range in recent decades.

Habitat

The Red-headed Finch inhabits open desert grasslands, semi-arid and arid shrublands in Namibia and the Karoo, arid savanna, croplands and farmyards. Usually with scattered trees and bushes. The Red-headed Finch is also frequently found in urban areas. They may shift from more thickly wooded thornbush in the breeding season to more open habitats after breeding.

Behaviour

The Red-headed Finch is found in pairs or small groups when breeding. They are otherwise gregarious in well-coordinated flocks that may number into the hundreds. They are highly nomadic by nature, especially during dry periods, and eruptive when conditions are favourable. Often feeds and drinks in association with other seed-eating bird species. The Red-headed Finch is reliant on drinking water and drinks frequently, gathering at water holes in large flocks, often with other small granivores. The flight is fast and undulating, flying to perch in a tree, bush, or fence when disturbed.

The Red-headed Finch forages on the ground. They mainly eat seeds, favouring grass seeds, and will also eat small insects like termites.

The Red-headed Finch is a monogamous breeder and they either nest solitarily or in small colonies. Mostly reuses the old nests of various weavers and sparrows, including Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus), Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus), Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus), Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius), White-browed Sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali), and Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger). They sometimes also nest in tree holes or buildings. The Red-headed Finch occasionally also builds its own nest which is an untidy ball of grass and feathers placed in the branches of a thorny tree.

Egg-laying has been recorded throughout the year depending on rainfall, but most eggs are laid from February to September. Anywhere from 2 to 11 eggs are laid per clutch, (usually 4 to 6 eggs). The eggs are plain white and oval in shape. The incubation period takes 12 to 14 days and is performed by both sexes. The nestling period takes a further 15 to 21 days and the young are cared for and fed by both parents.

Further Resources

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Johan Van Rooyen, Karis Daniel, Sybrand Venter, and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Rooikopvink (Afrikaans); Rotkopfamadine (German); Amadine à tête rouge (French); Roodkopamandine (Dutch); Degolado-de-cabeça-vermelha (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2025. Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2025/01/06/red-headed-finch-amadina-erythrocephala/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding