The finches of family Estrildidae are small birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are closely related to the true sparrows of family Passeridae. The estrilidid finches are gregarious and often seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They vary from 8-17 cm. These finches are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colors and pattern. All the estrildids build large domed nests and lay 5–10 white eggs. Most are sensitive to cold and require a warm, usually tropical, habitat, although a few have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia. They are not closely related to the Fringillid Finches.
Genus Amandava
Avadavat,_Green also Green Munia Amandava formosa also Sporaeginthus formosa Found: Indian subcontinent
The Green Avadavat has green upperparts; black and white barred flanks; red bill; yellow under-tail coverts.
Image by: 1, 2) Pkspks - India 3) The_Photomation
Avadavat,_Red also Red Munia Amandava amandava Found: Asia
The breeding male Red Avadavat has red upperparst, breas, billt; black eye-line; lower belly, wings; white spotting. Nonbreeding male duller but maintains red rump. Female duller with less white spotting.
Image by:
1) Savisingh 2) Chinmay 3) Vijay Cavale 4) LonelyShrimp 5) Agustin_Povedano
Waxbill, Orange-breasted also Zebra Waxbill Amandava subflava also Sporaeginthus subflavusFound: Africa
The Zebra Waxbill has dark olive-green upperparts; orange breast; red bill. Male has red supercilium; female has duller plumage.
Image by :
Johan Spaedike 2) Alan Manson - South Africa 3) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 4, 5) Derek_Keats - South Africa
Genus Emblema - 1 species
Finch,_Painted also Painted Firetail Emblema pictum Found: Australia
The male Painted Finch has red face, chin, mid-belly, rump; brown crown, back; black underparts - except for midsection - painted with white spots; bluish bill with red tip. Female duller; larger white spots.
Image by: 1, 2) Brian_McCauley 3) William Kreijkes 4) Jim Bendon 5) Jim_Bendon
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1) Third from left probably female
Genus Erythrura
The parritfinches usally have mainly green plumage. Most species have blue or red markings on the head and a red rump and tail. The tail is pointed and often fairly long.
Finch,_Gouldian Erythrura gouldiae Endemic to Australia
The Gouldian Finch has green back; blue to purple breast; yellow belly; black tail; usually black chin; blue rump; yellow, red, or black head; ivory bill with red tip.
Image by: 1, 5) Trisha
Shears at the Cincinnati Zoo 2, 3, 4, 8)
Dick Daniels - Butterfly
World, Florida 6) Dick - National Aviary 7) Sandy Cole - National Aviary 
1) Juvenile
ParrotFinch,_Blue-faced Erythrura trichroa Found: Asia, Australia
The Blue-faced Parrotfinch has blue face, throat; green back; black bill.
Image by: 1) Brian_McCauley - Australia 2) Dick Daniels - Bronx Zoo 3) Nrg800
Parrotfinch,_Fiji Erythrura pealii Found: Fiji
The Fiji Parrotfinch has mainly green plumage; red head, tail; stubby dark-gray bill.
Image by: 1, 2) Tom Tarrant 3) Arthur_Chapman
Parrotfinch,_Green-faced Erythrura viridifacies Found: Philippines
The Green-faced Parrotfinch has mainly green plumage; red upper-tail coverts; long pointed tail; dark bill. Female shorter and shows buff on lower belly..
Image by: 1) Neon Rosell 2) stamp_of_the_Philippines
Parrotfinch,_Papuan Erythrura papuana Found: New Guinea
The Papuan Parrotfinch has green upperparts; mainly blue crown; blue face; red tail.
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) hbw.com
Parrotfinch,_Pink-billed Erythrura kleinschmidti Found: Fiji
Image by: 1) Joseph Smit 2) William_Beckon
Parrotfinch,_Pin-tailed Erythrura prasina Found: southeast Asia, Indonesia
Image by: 1, 2) Jason Thompson 3) Chaval BR 4) Naturelly
Parrotfinch,_Red-eared Erythrura coloria Found: Mindanao (Philippines)
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden 2) esbelme
Parrotfinch,_Red-headed Erythrura cyaneovirens Found: Samoan Islands
Image by: 1, 2) Naturgucker
Parrotfinch,_Red-throated Erythrura psittacea Found: New Caldonia (east of Australia)
Image by: 1) LT Shears 2) Wiliam Kreijkes 3) David_Ringer
Parrotfinch,_Royal Erythrura regia Found: Vauala (south Pacific Ocean)
The male Royal Parrotfinch has turquoise-green upperparts; red head, tail; blue-breast. Females are greener in color.
Image by: 1) Joseph Smit
1) Male - bottom; female - top
Parrotfinch,_Tawny-breasted Erythrura hyperythra Found: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
Image by: 1) Shah Jahan - Java (Indonesia) 2) Johnm Mittermeir - Java
Parrotfinch,_Tricolored also Forbes Parrot Finch Erythrura tricolor Found: Indonesia
The Tircolored Parrotfinch has green back and wings; blue underparts; red tail; black bill.
Image by: 1, 3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World - Florida 2) Sandy Cole - Butterfly World in
Florida 
Genus Euodice
The African Silverbill and Indian Silverbill are closely related. Some put them in their own genus, Eurodice while others include them in the Lonchura genus.
Silverbill,_African Euodice cantans Found: Africa
The African Silverbill has finel vermiculated light-brown upperparts; whitish underparts; silver-blue bill; black wings, rump.
Image by: 1) Becco d'Argento 2) Francesco_Veronesi - Kenya. 3) Edward Cwik 4) Frans_Vandewalle - Garbon 5) Nik_Borrow - Ethiopia.jpg){kind=link}
Silverbill, Indian Euodice malabarica also Lonchura malabarica Found: Asia
Also known as White-throated Munia also White-rumped Silverbill.
The Indian Silverbill has buff-brown upperparts; silver-gray bill; white underparts; dark wings; black tail.
Some individuals have a pronounced white rump while others have little or no white showing on the rump.
Image by: 1) J. M. Garg - Haryana, India 2, 3) DIck Daniels - Hawaii 4, 5, 6, 7) Dick- Butterfly World, Florida The Indian Silverbill has buff-brown upperparts; silver-gray bill; white underparts; dark wings; black tail.
Some individuals have a pronounced white rump while others have little or no white showing on the rump.
Genus Heteromunia - 1 species
Mannikin,_Pictorella also Pictorella Munia Heteromunia pectoralis Found: Australia
Image by: 1, 2) Brian_McCauley
Genus Lepidopygia - 1 species
Mannikin,_Madagascar also Madagascar Munia Lepidopygia nana Found: Madagascar
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Morondava, Madagascar 2) Amy McAndrews 3) Francesco_Veronesi
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Genus Lonchura
They are small gregarious birds which feed mainly on seeds, usually in relatively open habitats, preferring to feed on the ground or on reeds of grasses. They have stubby bills, stocky bodies and long tails. Most are 10–12 cm in length. Plumage is usually a combination of browns, black and white, with the sexes similar, but duller and less contrasted for immature birds.
Finch,_Java also Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora also Padda oryzivora Found: North America (escapees), Asia, Australia (introduced),
The Java Sparrow has gray upperparts, breast; pink belly; white-cheeked black head; red eye-ring; thick red bill; pink feet.
Similar to: Timor Sparow. Java Sparrow has gray upperparts; Timor Sparow has brown upperparts.
Image by: 1, 2, 3, 4) DIck Daniels - Hawaii Similar to: Timor Sparow. Java Sparrow has gray upperparts; Timor Sparow has brown upperparts.
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Mannikin,_Black also Black Munia Lonchura stygia Found; New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina Tvardikova 2, 3) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_Black-and-white also Black-and-white Munia Lonchura bicolor also Spermestes bicolor Found: Africa
Image by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World, Florida 3, 4) Alan Manson
Mannikin,_Black-breasted Black-breasted Munia Lonchura teerinki Found: New Guinea
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_Bronze also Bronze Munia Lonchura cucullata also Spermestes cucullata Found: Africa, Caribbean (introduced)
The Bronze Mannikin has brown upperparts; iridescent green shoulder patch; dark purple head; white underparts with dark flank markings; gray bill.
Image by: 1, 5, 6) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World, Florida 2 ) New Jersy Birds 3) Charlie Westerinen 4) Dick - St. John, Virgin Islands 7) Dick - Nairobi
1) Juvenile
Mannikin,_Buff-bellied also Bismark Munia Lonchura melaena Found: Papua New Guinea
Image by: 1) Nik_Borrow 2, 3) Katherine Faust Stryjewsk
2) L. m. melaena 3) L. m. bukaensis
Mannikin,_Chestnut also Chestnut Munia also Black-headed Munia Lonchura atricapilla Found: Asia, Philippines, Hawaii
The Chestnut Mannikin has chestnut brown plumage, wings, tail; black head; gray bill,
Image by: 1) DIck Daniels - Kauai, Hawaii 2) Neko Katya 3) Johnny_Wee 4) Aurelien_Lequoy
Mannikin,_Chestnut-breasted also Chestnut-breasted Munia Lonchura castaneothorax Found: Australia
The Chestnut-breasted Munia has a brown back; black face; grayish crown, nape; broad ferruginous breast bar whie belly; black and white streaked flanks.
Image by: 1) Nrg800 2) Aviceda 3) fir0002 - Victoria, AU 4) Jim_Bendon 5) Ian_Sutton 6) Brian_McCauley
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Mannikin,_Forbe's also New Ireland Munia Lonchura forbesi Found: Papua New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_Gray-crowned also Gray-crowned Munia Lonchura nevermanni Found: New Guinea
Image by; 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) Johannes Pfleiderer 3) P Camero
Mannikin,_Great-billed Lonchura grandis Found: New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2, 3, 4) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_Hooded Lonchura spectabilis Found: New Guinea
The Hooded Mannikin has brown upperparts; golden rump; white underparts; black hood..
Image by:
1) Katerina Tvardikova 2) David Cook
Mannikin,_Hunstein's also Mottled Munia Lonchura hunsteini Found: Papua New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina Tvardikova 2) John Gerrard Keulemans 3) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_Magpie also Magpie Munia Lonchura fringilloides also Spermestes fringilloides Found: Africa
The Magpie Mannikin has a brown back, wings, tail; black head; white underparts; black upper mandible, gray lower mandible; black legs.
Image by: 1) Gallo71 2, 3) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo 
Mannikin,_New Hanover also New Hanover Munia Lonchura nigerrima Found: Papua New Guinea
The New Hanover Mannikin is also considered a subspecies of the Hunstein's Mannikin.
Image by: 1) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_Nutmeg also Scaly-breasted Munia also Spice Finch Lonchura punctulata
Found: North America (escapees), Asia, Australia (introduced), Hawaii
The Nutmeg Mannikan has brown upperparts; scale-like markings on the underparts; dark bill.
Similar to: Tricolored Munia. The juvenile Nutmeg Mannikan and juvenile Tricolored Munia are similar.
Image by: 1, 2, 6) Dick Daniels - Kauai, Hawaii 3) Antony Gros - India 4) Bill Lynch - California 5) Shrikant_Rao - IndiaSimilar to: Tricolored Munia. The juvenile Nutmeg Mannikan and juvenile Tricolored Munia are similar.
2) Juvenile
Mannikin,_Western Alpine also Snow Mountain Munia Lonchura montana Found: New Guinea
The Western Alpine Mannikin has dark brown upperparts; black face; buff breast; whitish belly with faint black bars.
Image by: 1) Aurelien Lequoy
Mannikin,_White-rumped also White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Found: Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia
The White-rumped Mannikin has brown upperparts, upper breast; whitish lower-breast, belly; white rump.
Image by:
1) Vengolis 2) JM Garg - India 3) Charles Lam 4) Thomas_Brown
Mannikin,_Yellow-rumped also Yellow-rumped Munia Lonchura flaviprymna Found: Northwest Territory, Australia
Image by: 1) Henrik Gronvold 2) Katie and Tommy 3) Gayle and Colin Langford
Munia,_Black-faced Lonchura molucca Found: Indonesia
The Black-faced Munia has rufous brown upperparts; black head, upper-throat; pale underparts; blusih-gray bill.
Image by:
1) Gollo71 2) John_Tasirin
Munia,_Black-throated Lonchura kelaarti Found: India, Sri Lanka
The Black-throated Munia dark brown upperparts; blackish head, breast, wings; gray bill. Kelaarti subspecies whitish underparts, rump. Jerdoni subspecies has barred black and white bill, rump.
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) Raveen and Varuni
1) L. k. kelaarti 2) L. k. jerdoni
Munia,_Dusky Lonchura fuscans Found: Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia)
Image by: 1, 2) Wibowo Djatmiko 3) LonelyShrimp
Munia,_Five-colored Lonchura quinticolor Found: Indonesia
Image by: 1) Ron Knight 2) Peter_Ericsson
Munia,_Gray-banded also Gray-banded Mannikin Lonchura vana Found: New Guinea
The Gray-baned Munia has dark brown upperparts; pale gray head with white forehead; brownish-gray breast; gray lower breast-band; rufous-brown belly.
Image by: 1) hbw.com 2) Pinned
Munia,_Gray-headed also Gray-headed Mannikin Lonchura caniceps Found: New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) Francesco_Veronesi
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Munia,_Javan Lonchura leucogastroides Found: Indonesia
Image by: 1) Lip Kee 2) Melvin Yap
Munia,_White-headed Lonchura maja Found: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Portugal (introduced)
The White-headed Munia has mainly brown plumage; white head, throat.
Image by: 1) LonelyShrimp - Malaysia 2) Bob_PS - Malaysia 3) Aurelien_Lequoy
Munia,_Streak-headed also Streak-headed Mannikin Lonchura tristissima Found: New Guinea
The Streak-headed Munia has mainly dark brown plumage; light streaking on head; yellowish-rump.
Image by: 1, 2) Katerina_Tvardikova
Munia,_Pale-headed Lonchura pallida Found: Indonesia
Image by: 1, 2) Aurelin Lequoy 3) Francesco_Veronesi - Sulawesi
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Munia,_Tricolored Lonchura malacca Found: South America (introduced), Asia
The Tricolored Munia has a chestnut back; black head, neck, belly; white belly.
Similar to: Nutmeg Mannikin. The juvenile Nutmeg Mannikan and juvenile Tricolored Munia are similar.
Image by: 1) Krayker - India 2) Barloventomagico - Venezuela 3) Davidvraju 4) Imran_Shah - PakistanSimilar to: Nutmeg Mannikin. The juvenile Nutmeg Mannikan and juvenile Tricolored Munia are similar.
Munia,_White-bellied Lonchura leucogastra Found: southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
Image by: 1) Grandpa_at_50 2) Aaron_Maizlish
Munia,_White-capped Lonchura ferruginosa Found: Indonesia
Image by: 1) Aurelien Lequoy
Sparrow, Timor Lonchura fuscata Found: Indonesia
The Timor Sparrow brown upperparts. breast; white cheek; black crown, throat; silvery-blue bil; creamy-white belly.
Similar to: Java Sparow. Java Sparrow has gray upperparts; Timor Sparow has brown upperparts.
Image by: 1, 2) Peter StubbsSimilar to: Java Sparow. Java Sparrow has gray upperparts; Timor Sparow has brown upperparts.
Genus Neochmia
Finch,_Crimson Neochmia phaeton Found: Australia, New Guinea
The Crimson Finch has a white bellied race and a black bellied race.
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2, 4) Geoff Whalen 3) Ian_Sutton 2, 3) Female 4) Male
Finch,_Plum-headed Neochmia modesta Found: Australia
The Plum-headed Finch has olive-brown upperparts; olive-brown wings with white spots; deep purple forehead, chin; white cheeks, rump; black lores, tail; white underparts with brown bars. Female has white chin.
Image by: 1, 4) David Cook 2) Tom Tarrant - Gatton, Queensland 3) First_Krad
1, 2) Female 3, 4) Male
Finch,_Star Neochmia ruficauda Found: Australia
The Star Finch has dark olive upperparts; red face, chin; white spotted chest, flanks, tail; yellow-olive lower-breast, belly.
Image by: 1) JJ Harrison 2) André Karwath 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World 
Firetail,_Red-browed also Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis Found: east coast Australia
The Red-browed Firetail has bright red stripe above eye; olive wings; gray underparts.
Image by: 1, 3) Tatters:) - Queensland 2) James_Niland - Queensland 4) Kazredracer
1) Juvenile
Genus Oreostruthus - 1 Genus
Firetail,_Mountain Oreostruthus fuliginosus Found: New Guinea
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden 2) Mark Sharper 3) David Cook
1) Male - left; Female - right 2, 3) Female
Genus Poephila
These species prefer dry grassland. They have buff or brown upperparts; pinkish upperparts; black tail.
Finch,_Black-throated Poephila cincta Found: northeast Australia
The Black-throated Finch has black throat, bill, lores; pale gray head; pale pinkish-brown wings, underparts; black or white rump.
Image by: 1) Nrg800 2, 3) Brian_McCauley 4) Dominic Sherony 
Finch,_Long-tailed also Shaft-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda Found: Australia
The Long-tailed Finch has yellowish-brown upperparts; blue-gray head; black lores, bib, tail; pale underparts with black mark on lower belly; white rump; orange legs.
Image by: 1) Nrg800 2, 3, 4, 7, 6, 9) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World 5) Dick - National Aviary 6) Sandy Cole - National Aviary
6, 7, 8) Fawn morph
Finch,_Masked Poephila personata Found: Australia
The Masked Finch has cinnamon-brown upperparts; paler underparts with white rump; black face mask; black patch on rear flanks.
Image by: 1) Nrg800 2, 4) Geoff Whalan 4) Brian_McCauley 5) Summerdrought
Genus Stagonopleura
These firetails have brown upperparts; red rump, bill.
Firetail,_Beautiful Stagonopleura bella Found: Australia
The Beautiful Firetail has mainly olive-brown plumage; white underparts with fine pattern of black lines; black mask; pale blue eye-rings; red bill, rump; pink legs.
Image by: 1, 4) JJ_Harrison - Tasmania 2, 3) David Cook
1, 2) Female 3, 4) Male
Firetail,_Diamond Stagonopleura guttata Found: Australia
The Diamond Firetail has gray upperparts; white underparts; black breast bar; black flanks with white spots; crimson rump; red bill; black lores. Female has brown lores.
Image by: 1) JJ Harrison - Victoria, Australia 2, 3) David Cook - Wamboin, NSW, Australia 4) birdsaspoetry
Firetail,_Red-eared Stagonopleura oculata Found: southwestern Australia
Image by: 1) Laurie_Boyle 2) Jack_Snipe 3) Jean_Hort
Genus Taeniopygia
These finches are found in Australia
Finch,_Double-barred also Owl Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii Found: Australia
The Double-barred Finch has brownish-gray upperparts; black wings with white dots; black tail; black rump (T, b, annulosa) or white rump (T. b. b.); white face bordered with black; white underparts with black breast bar; blue-gray legs. These gregarious seed-eating birds build their nests in grass, a bush or low tree, and lay four eggs.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World in Florida 2) Brian_McCauley 3) Paul_Balfe
4, 5) David Cook - ACT, Australia 6) Charlie Westerinen
Finch,_Zebra Taeniopygia guttata Found: Australia
The Zebra Finch has brownish-gray upperparts; orange or black cheeks; white (male) or buff (female) belly; black breast bar; chestnut flanks with white spots; black-and-white barred tail; orange to red bill
Image by: 1, 4) David Cook - Western Australia 2, 3) Peripitus 3) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World - Florida 4) Sandy Cole - Butterfly World 
1) Juvenile 2) Female 3- 6) Male
