Red-headed Finch
Amadina erythrocephala
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusAmadina (Cut-throat and Red-headed Finches)
- SpeciesAmadina erythrocephala (Red-headed Finch)
About the Red-headed Finch
The red-headed finch (Amadina erythrocephala) (also known as the paradise finch) is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,600,000 km2 (620,000 sq mi). It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Males have vibrant red heads and chests while the females are duller. The resemblance to the cut-throat finch is unmistakable. The red-headed and cut-throat finch are the only members of the genus Amadina. Amadinas with their heavy beaks resemble members of the Lonchura, so they are actually more closely related to the Pytilias such as the Melba finch.
The red-headed finch was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Loxia eryocephala, a misspelling of Loxia erythrocephala. The specific epithet combines the Ancient Greek eruthros meaning "red" with -kephalos meaning "headed". Linnaeus based his description on "The Sparrow of Paradise" that had been described and illustrated in 1751 by the English naturalist George Edwards in his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards' specimen had... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Red-headed Finch in Kruger National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kruger National Park
Cut-throat
Amadina fasciata
Blue-breasted Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus angolensis
Green-winged Pytilia
Pytilia melba
Red-billed Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
Jameson's Firefinch
Lagonosticta rhodopareia
Bronze Mannikin
Lonchura cucullata
African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
Brown-backed Munia
Lonchura nigriceps
Orange-winged Pytilia
Pytilia afra
Violet-eared Waxbill
Uraeginthus granatinus
Black-faced Quailfinch
Ortygospiza atricollis
Orangebreast
Amandava subflava
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 2 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 4 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 5 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 6 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 7 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 8 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Red-headed Finch in Kruger National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-headed Finch sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 65 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Red-headed Finch in Kruger National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Red-headed Finch in Kruger National Park in our monthly data.