Purple Grenadier

By Charlie • June 10, 2008 • No comments yet

Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus Ianthinogaster
Nairobi, Kenya

The Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus Ianthinogaster, found in subtropical and tropical dry shrubland in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, is a beautiful waxbill, closely related to the equally gorgeous Violet-eared Waxbill of southern Africa. Locally common in Kenya, it’s predominantly a bird of the highlands so is mostly absent from the arid desert regions and the coast. This is generally considered to be a rather secretive bird and its habit of foraging in undergrowth can make it difficult to spot (I almost walked right past the male pictured here as it hopped quietly about along a line of shrubbery), but where it’s become accustomed to people (eg around some Lodges) it will tolerate a quite close approach.

purple grenadier

Male Purple Grenadier, Nairobi, June 2008

Female Purple Grenadier, Nairobi, January 2008

All photographs copyright Charlie Moores

Tags: finches, kenya, nairobi, waxbills

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Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

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