waxbill

waxbill
/waks"bil'/, n.
any of several small Old World finches, esp. of the genus Estrilda, that have white, pink, or red bills of waxy appearance and are often kept as cage birds.
[1745-55; WAX1 + BILL2]

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bird
      any of several Old World tropical birds named for the prominent red (the colour of sealing wax) of their conical bills. The name is used generally for birds of the family Estrildidae (order Passeriformes); less broadly for those of the tribe Estrildini of that family; and particularly for the 28 species of the genus Estrilda, which includes some popular domesticated birds. Waxbills are seedeaters that go about in compact flocks and nest in tall grass. Individuals of most species are brown or grayish, with touches of red, yellow, or black; most have fine barring. The 10-centimetre (4-inch) common waxbill (E. astrild) is brown above and pinkish below; it is common in Africa—the home of most species of the genus—and has been introduced into Brazil. The lavender waxbill (E. coerulescens) has a wine red bill and tail. Certain other waxbill species are known by the name cordon bleu (q.v.).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Waxbill — Wax bill , n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of finchlike birds belonging to {Estrelda} and allied genera, native of Asia, Africa, and Australia. The bill is large, conical, and usually red in color, resembling sealing wax. Several of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • waxbill — [waks′bil΄] n. any of a group of small, Old World passerine birds (family Estrildidae) with waxy pink, scarlet, or white bills: some species are kept as cage birds …   English World dictionary

  • waxbill — /ˈwæksbɪl/ (say waksbil) noun any of various finch like birds of the subfamily Estrildinae, especially of the genus Estrilda, having coloured bills of waxlike appearance, and including many species commonly kept caged as pets, as the common… …  

  • waxbill — tikrosios astrildos statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Estrilda angl. waxbill vok. Eigentlicher Astrild, m rus. астрильд, m; настоящий астрильд, m pranc. astrild, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – astrildiniai siauresnis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • waxbill — noun Date: 1757 any of numerous Old World oscine birds (family Estrildidae, especially genus Estrilda) having white, pink, or reddish bills of a waxy appearance …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • waxbill — noun Any bird of the genus Estrilda …   Wiktionary

  • waxbill — noun a small finch like songbird with a red bill that resembles sealing wax in colour. [Family Estrildidae: several species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • waxbill — wax•bill [[t]ˈwæksˌbɪl[/t]] n. orn any of various small, chiefly African finches of the family Estrildidae that have white, pink, or red bills of waxy appearance • Etymology: 1745–55 …   From formal English to slang

  • waxbill — n. any of various birds esp. of the family Estrildidae, with usu. red bills resembling the colour of sealing wax …   Useful english dictionary

  • USS Waxbill (MHC-50) — For other ships of the same name, see USS Waxbill. Career (United States) …   Wikipedia

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