waxbills, munias & allies: Estrildidae

Estrildids are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colours and patterns. All the estrildids build large, domed nests and lay five to ten white eggs. Most are sensitive to cold and require warm, usually tropical, habitats, although a few have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia and the highlands of New Guinea.