So we’ve been seeing groups of these very small birds among the tall grass in Waialae Beach Park and along toward the golf course.
They look like some variant of what we used to just call a rice bird, swooping in to feed on the grass seeds, then flying off. They appear to be about half the size of the more common Java Sparrow.
But these are different. They have a red/orange bill, and a similarly colored mask that extends back past their eyes.
Leafing through a Hawaii bird guide published by UH Press, the closest match is a black-rumped waxbill (estrilda troglodytes).
But it is described as “seldom seen” and “known only from the North Kona District of the Big Island….”
Any suggestions?
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Best guess – Orange Cheeked Wax Bill. Abundant on Oahu.
Aloha –
I checked the Hawaii Audubon Society’s “Hawaii’s Birds”, 1997 edition. The closest match there is the Common Waxbill (estrilda astrild). It is described as “common and widespread in the lowlands of O`ahu, rapidly spreading”. Also in the Diamondhead area.”
The Black-rumped Waxbill does not get its own entry but is mentioned in the entry for the Common Waxbill. It is described as “established in the pu`u wa`awa`a region of Hawai`i. It is similar to the Common Waxbill but has undertail coverts and short black tail.”
ESTRILDA ASTRILD | COMMON WAXBILL
https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/bird/common-waxbill/#:~:text=The%20common%20waxbill%20is%20a,they%20dart%20around%20a%20field.
We call them Mele Kohola. Very small and sadly fit entirely inside cat’s mouth.
We didn’t use to see them, and now we see them in many places. Looks like they found a niche to occupy. Hope another species isn’t being pushed out.