Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is poorly known, with limited historical records from a small area. There is insufficient information to estimate range size, population size and trend therefore the species is classified as Data Deficient.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as rare and very little known (Clement 1999).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
Estrilda nigriloris is restricted to an area around the Lualaba River and Lake Upemba in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, with no records since 1950. Taxonomic studies are needed to clarify its status (Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire 1993) and, if it proves to be a good species, surveys are needed to determine its distribution, population and habitat requirements.
Historical records were in grassy plains with tall grasses and bushes, where it occurred in small flocks.
Unknown.
Conservation Actions Underway
Most of the population is probably within the Upemba National Park, but it is not clear to what extent habitat here is protected (Stattersfield et al. 1998).
11 cm. Small, dun coloured finch with pointed tail and red bill. General impression is of a Common Waxbill with a black line through the eye. At close range the fawn/grey plumage is finely barred on upperparts except the head and barring confined to the flanks and belly. Vent is black. Lozenge shaped black patch runs through the eye. Similar spp. Confusable only with Common Waxbill which has a red, not black stripe through the eye. Voice Unknown in the wild. Captive birds uttered a nasal buzzy sound, not unlike Common Waxbill. Hints Range not clear, but a search in grassy areas on the banks of the Lualaba River, and adjacent grasslands on the eastern reaches of Lake Upemba in southern D.R.C., might produce this very poorly known bird.
Text account compilers
Khwaja, N., Shutes, S., Symes, A., Westrip, J., Martin, R
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-lored Waxbill Estrilda nigriloris. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-lored-waxbill-estrilda-nigriloris on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.