🟥 Rock-Red Royalty
Strawberry Finch (Red Avadavat) — Amandava amandava | தமிழ்: சிவப்பு மணி குருவி (ஆண்)
📍 Vellore – Tamilnadu – India — 03rd Nov 2024, 4:45 pm
📸 EXIF: Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800 | 1/2500 sec at f/6.3, ISO 4000
📍 Vellore – Tamilnadu – India — 03rd Nov 2024, 4:45 pm
📸 EXIF: Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800 | 1/2500 sec at f/6.3, ISO 4000
Story
A rarely visited patch, quiet and stony—then a flash of ruby.
This Strawberry Finch rose onto the rock like a little king, scanning his realm before melting back into the grasses.
A rarely visited patch, quiet and stony—then a flash of ruby.
This Strawberry Finch rose onto the rock like a little king, scanning his realm before melting back into the grasses.
Field Guide
• Identification: Tiny finch; breeding male is deep red with neat white “seed-like” spots on flanks and wings, red bill and rump, dark tail; quick, bouncy flight.
• Habitat & Diet: Open grasslands, weedy fields, stubble near water; feeds mainly on grass seeds, also tiny insects during breeding.
• Breeding: Monsoon to post-monsoon in much of peninsular India; domed grass nests low in clumps; typical clutch 4–6 white eggs, both parents care.
• Range: Widespread across the Indian subcontinent into SE Asia; common but patchy in suitable grassy habitat across Tamil Nadu.
• Look-alike tip: Not to be confused with Scaly-breasted Munia—munia shows brown body with distinct “scale” pattern, not uniform red; female Red Avadavat is brownish with only a reddish bill.
• Identification: Tiny finch; breeding male is deep red with neat white “seed-like” spots on flanks and wings, red bill and rump, dark tail; quick, bouncy flight.
• Habitat & Diet: Open grasslands, weedy fields, stubble near water; feeds mainly on grass seeds, also tiny insects during breeding.
• Breeding: Monsoon to post-monsoon in much of peninsular India; domed grass nests low in clumps; typical clutch 4–6 white eggs, both parents care.
• Range: Widespread across the Indian subcontinent into SE Asia; common but patchy in suitable grassy habitat across Tamil Nadu.
• Look-alike tip: Not to be confused with Scaly-breasted Munia—munia shows brown body with distinct “scale” pattern, not uniform red; female Red Avadavat is brownish with only a reddish bill.
Micro-caption
A gem on a granite throne—brief, bold, and beautifully red. ❤️🪶
A gem on a granite throne—brief, bold, and beautifully red. ❤️🪶
