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Estrildid finch

Estrildid Finches

Long-tailed Finch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genera
Many:see text
The estrildid finches, are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics.

They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern.

All the estrildids build large domed nests and lay 5-10 white eggs. Some of the fire-finches and pytilias are hosts to the brood parasitic indigobirds and whydahs respectively.