waxbill

[ waks-bil ]

noun

1. any of several small Old World finches, especially of the genus Estrilda, that have white, pink, or red bills bill of waxy appearance and are often kept as cage birds.

waxbill

/ ˈwæksˌbɪl /

noun

1. any of various chiefly African finchlike weaverbirds of the genus Estrilda and related genera, having a brightly coloured bill and plumage

Word History and Origins

Origin of waxbill¹

First recorded in 1745–55; wax ¹ + bill ²

Example Sentences

That afternoon, we went on an hourlong walk through the property’s nature trail, where we spotted at least six species of birds, including the yellow-bellied waxbill and the olive woodpecker.

From New York Times

The team studied 16 blue-capped cordon-bleus - a species of waxbill native to sub-Saharan Africa.

From BBC

The female is olive brown; the male, in summer, mostly crimson; Ð called also red waxbill.

From Project Gutenberg

The same treatment suits the African waxbills, many of which are extremely beautiful, the crimson-eared waxbill or "cordon-bleu" being one of the most lovely and frequently imported.

From Project Gutenberg

Rails, 230 Rajpur, 26, 86 RALLIDÆ, 230 Ramganga stream, 21 Ranibagh, 20 Raspberries, 17 Rattray, Colonel, 167 Redstart, 118 Red waxbill, 206 Red-whiskered bulbul, 50 Rhipidura albifrontata, 202, 241 — allicollis, 115 — pectoralis, 202 Rhododendron, 17, 21, 24 Rhyacornis fuliginosus, 69, 118 Ring-dove, 98 Robin, Indian, 27 Rock-thrush, 70, 118 Rohilkhand, 19 — and Kumaun Railway, 19 Roller, Indian, 32 Rose-finch, 207 Rufous-backed shrike, 57 — chinned laughing-thrush, 45 Sal, 16 Sarju river, 23 seq.

From Project Gutenberg