Red Avadavat (call)

The red avadavat (Amandava amandava), red munia or strawberry finch, is a sparrow-sized bird. It is found in the open fields and grasslands of tropical Asia and is popular as a cage bird due to the colourful plumage of the males in their breeding season. It breeds in the Indian Subcontinent in the monsoon season. The species name of amandava and the common name of avadavat are derived from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, from where these birds were exported into the pet trade in former times.

I’ve spotted a flock of these (around 10 perhaps) at three different spots so far. From a distance, due to their size, one can easily mistake them to be Scaly-breasted Munias. They are skittish, so getting a close-up shot isn’t all that easy. By far, the most colorful bird I’ve shot. Managed to capture pairs building nests around here. Males do all the work (like in the case of Baya Weavers) and are extremely focused in their craft.