
Orange-breasted Waxbill
The orange-breasted waxbill (Amandava subflava), also known as the zebra waxbill, is a small (approximately 9 cm long) sparrow-like bird with a reddish iris, orange breast, red bill and dark olive-green plumage.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 93 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Gauteng and beyond
Provinces where Orange-breasted Waxbill is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
93 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Orange-breasted Waxbill
Stays that give back
Across the Free State
Orange-breasted Waxbill recorded here
Orange-breasted Waxbill recorded here
Orange-breasted Waxbill recorded here
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Orange-breasted Waxbill
Hosts have recorded the Orange-breasted Waxbill at stays in or beside Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Amandava subflava
Records
93
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Orange-breasted Waxbill on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Orange-breasted Waxbill in Free State?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Orange-breasted Waxbill at stays in or beside Golden Gate Highlands National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Orange-breasted Waxbill in South Africa?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill is most recorded in Gauteng (40% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (31% of records), Mpumalanga (16% of records), based on 93 iNaturalist observations. 3 places to stay on Spekboom in Free State have recorded the Orange-breasted Waxbill on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Orange-breasted Waxbill?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Golden Gate Highlands National Park: Mar-May, Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Orange-breasted Waxbill?
The Orange-breasted Waxbill (Amandava subflava) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Orange-breasted Waxbill?
The orange-breasted waxbill (Amandava subflava), also known as the zebra waxbill, is a small (approximately 9 cm long) sparrow-like bird with a reddish iris, orange breast, red bill and dark olive-green plumage. The male has a red rump, dark bars on the whitish flank and a scarlet eyebrow stripe. The female is duller and smaller than male; it also lacks the male's red eyebrow.














