Common Waxbill

A small flock of Common Waxbills at Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii; 6/25/08.

The Common Waxbill is another bird that we observed only on the island of Oahu; indeed, doing some research it has only been seen in a couple of specific locations only on Oahu (and not found on the other Hawaiian Islands). We saw a small flock (Above) of these birds while exploring Hanauma Bay on Oahu's Southeast corner. They are a very pretty member of the Finch family with gray-brown upperparts and lower breast, and bellyline - also sporting very fine barring on back, wings, sides, lower breast, belly, and tail. What gives Waxbills a striking look is its Red beak, eyes and mask surrounded by white cheeks, throat, and upper breast (Below). Some have a rosy-pink patch on the belly.
 

A Common Waxbill sporting its bright red mask and beak; Oahu, Hawaii; 6/25/08.

 
Common Waxbills are usually observed pecking at the ground - on lawns, grassland, and cultivated fields. Sometimes they will be found in clearings of forests and marshes.