The Red-Billed Quelea (Quelea quelea aethiopica) is a weaver bird from East Africa and southern Africa.

It has a red beak. The male has a black face mask, spotted back and clear chest of yellow-orange, with orange legs. Its wings have some yellow edges. There is a patch of red on the crown. Females are plain grey-brown coloured.

Red-Billed Quelea (male)

The Red-Billed Quelea can grow to 13 centimetres (5 inches) tall.

It lives in flocks of 10-100 individuals.

It prefers wooded areas and open grasslands. It makes its nest in thorn trees. In one tree, there will be masses of small nests. Some trees have about 500 nests. Females lay 2-5 eggs.

Its predators include snakes, small mammals, and other birds (such as eagles).

Red-Billed Quelea (male)

Red-Billed Quelea (female)

Red-Billed Quelea (female)

Location of photographs: Kenya

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM