Cinderella Waxbill
Encyclopedia
The Cinderella Waxbill (Estrilda thomensis) is a near-threatened species of estrildid finch
found in drier regions of south-western Angola
around Namibe Province, north and east to south-west Huila Province and north to Fazenda do Cuito in Huambo
and extreme north-western Namibia
. It has an estimated global distribution of 95,700 km².
at Epupa Falls
has caused changes to insect biodiversity which were relied on by the Cinderella Waxbill during feeding of its young. Thus threatening its food source to be depleted.
The Waxbill also eats a regular diet. It eats plants-grass seeds and nectar- as well as insects-scale insects and termite alates. The Cinderella is diurnal, which means that they are awake in the daytime and sleep at night.
Estrildid finch
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae , or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows....
found in drier regions of south-western Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
around Namibe Province, north and east to south-west Huila Province and north to Fazenda do Cuito in Huambo
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa , is the capital of Huambo province in Angola. The city is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. The city's last known population count was 225,268...
and extreme north-western Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. It has an estimated global distribution of 95,700 km².
Habitat
The Cinderella Waxbill is found in subtropical and tropical (lowland) dry shrubland, savanna and forest habitats at altitude of 200 to 500 m. It is observed that the recent development of a hydroelectric plant on the Cunene RiverCunene River
The Cunene River or Kunene River is a river in Southern Africa. It flows from the Angola highlands south to the border with Namibia. It then flows west along the border until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region. It is about long, with a drainage...
at Epupa Falls
Epupa Falls
The Epupa Falls are created by the Kunene River on the border of Angola and Namibia, in the Kaokoland area of the Kunene Region. The river is 0.5 km wide and drops in a series of waterfalls spread over 1.5 km, with the greatest single drop being 37 m...
has caused changes to insect biodiversity which were relied on by the Cinderella Waxbill during feeding of its young. Thus threatening its food source to be depleted.
The Waxbill also eats a regular diet. It eats plants-grass seeds and nectar- as well as insects-scale insects and termite alates. The Cinderella is diurnal, which means that they are awake in the daytime and sleep at night.