Violet-eared Waxbills

This pretty pair are Violet-eared Waxbills, Granatina granatina.  These gorgeously coloured little seed-eaters occur in dry, open savannah woodland in Africa south of the rainforest belt; they are related to the Purple Grenadier, Granatina ianthinogaster, which occurs in Eastern and north-Eastern Africa.  The male is the one with the rich reddish-brown body colour.  These waxbills are sometimes parasitized by shaft-tailed whydahs ... birds that sneak into the grassy nests and lay an egg or two amidst the waxbill clutch.  The whydah chicks are then reared along with the waxbill chicks ... they look quite alike.  Only on reaching adulthood does the whydah develop its own distinctive plumage and set off to find more of its own kind.  The waxbills don't seem to be much bothered by this brood parasitism.  They're widespread and faily abundant, though very shy and difficult to see well.