The red avadavat
A sparrow-sized member of the Estrildidae family, the red avadavat (Amandava amandava), is also known as the red munia or strawberry finch.
It is common in tropical Asia’s expansive plains and grasslands and is well-known as a cage bird due to the attractive males’ breeding season plumage.
It reproduces on the Indian Subcontinent during the monsoon season.
Both the scientific name for this species, amandava, and its popular name, avadavat, are derived from Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat, where these birds were originally brought for the pet trade.
Their beautiful crimson plumage, which is speckled with dazzling white dots, might help you identify them.
The Indus Valley in Pakistan might include them. The Brahmaputra lowlands, which descend onto the Indian Peninsula, are also included.
The strawberry finch prefers flat, grassy plains that are preferably close to water. Some people refer the strawberry finches as red avadavats or red munias.
They are the size of a sparrow and are members of the estrukdudae family.
Introduced populations can be found in southern Spain, Brunei, Egypt, Fiji, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Hawaii, and Singapore.
In their natural habitat, they reproduce during the monsoon season by building a sphere-shaped nest out of grass blades and laying five to six eggs within.
In May, their beaks turn red, and in November and December, they get even darker.
Thus, before the cycle starts off again in April, their beaks quickly turn black.
