Green-winged Pytilia

Pytilia melba

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
GenusPytilia (Pytilias)
SpeciesPytilia melba (Green-winged Pytilia)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Namib-Naukluft National Park

3 Verified sightings at Namib-Naukluft National Park From 2019 to 2026

5,550 Verified sightings across all 40 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Green-winged Pytilia

The green-winged pytilia (Pytilia melba) is a small colourful seed-eating bird in the family Estrildidae. It is widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, though it is more rarely seen in central, far southern and coastal western parts of the continent.

The green-winged pytilia was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Fringilla melba. No explanation was provided for the specific epithet melba but it could possibly be from a supposed Chinese word or place. Linnaeus based his description on "The Green Gold-Finch" that had been described and illustrated in 1750 by the English naturalist George Edwards in his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards was uncertain of the origin of his specimen and Linnaeus mistakenly specified the locality as China. The specimen was subsequently assumed to be from Angola, but this was restricted to Luanda in Angola by Phillip Clancey in 1962.

The green-winged pytilia is now placed in the genus Pytilia that was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William Swainson for the red-winged pytilia. Eight subspecies are recognised: P. m.... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park

Amadina erythrocephala

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Uraeginthus angolensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Uraeginthus granatinus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Estrilda erythronotos

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

LC Endemic

Passer melanurus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Motacilla capensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Pycnonotus nigricans

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Oenanthe familiaris

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Cinnyris fuscus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Ploceus velatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Corvus albus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Onychognathus nabouroup

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
2	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~40%
3	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
4	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
5	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~30%
6	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~20%
7	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
8	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~20%
9	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
10	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
11	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~20%
12	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
13	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
14	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~20%
15	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
16	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
17	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
18	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
19	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
20	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~10%
21	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
22	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
23	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~10%
24	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
25	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
26	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
27	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
28	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
29	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
30	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
31	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
32	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
33	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
34	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
35	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
36	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
37	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
38	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
39	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
40	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data

← Back to Namib-Naukluft National Park

Green-winged Pytilia

About the Green-winged Pytilia

Recent sightings of Green-winged Pytilia in Namib-Naukluft National Park

Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park

Red-headed Finch

Blue-breasted Cordonbleu

Violet-eared Waxbill

Black-faced Waxbill

Cape Sparrow

Cape Wagtail

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Familiar Chat

Dusky Sunbird

Southern Masked Weaver

Pied Crow

Pale-winged Starling

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found