Estrilda astrild - Common Waxbill - Bico-de-lacre-comum

This beautiful birds appeared today in my backyard.

These birds are often noticed for their distinctive call. When the watcher

looks for the source of sound, often sees a number of "dots" to pass at high speed. They are always in flock. In Portugal, the flock is often a mix of Waxbills, European Greenfinches and european golfinches.

This tiny bird, originally from Africa, was one of the first non-native bird species to establish

a wild population in Portugal.

This bird is easily identifiable as it has a intense red beak and, sometimes, a red chest. Its length varies between 11 cm and 13 cm; its wingspan varies from 12 cm to 14 cm.