Purpurastrild

Purpurastrild

We are delighted that Dr Ulrike and Dr Wolfgang Riedel have taken on the sponsorship of the purple astrild
(Pyrenestes ostrinus).

In keeping with its colourful appearance, the purple finch belongs to the species-rich family of finches (Estrildidae), which is best known in this country for the zebra finches that are often kept as pets.

In their native Africa, purple finches, which weigh just 20 g, are often found along watercourses, as this is where their favourite food can be found: the seeds of sour grasses. Whether in the rainforest, in the more open gallery forests or forest savannahs - when approached, the shy birds usually hide in the thicket and are therefore not easy to observe in the wild.

Ornithologists have nevertheless been able to observe an interesting behaviour - at least in the males: They specifically visit ant nests, where they pick up individual ants with their beaks and then deposit them on their belly and under their wings in their own plumage. This behaviour, known as "anting", has been observed by scientists in over 200 different bird species worldwide. Its function is not yet 100% clear - the ants are probably used by the birds to remove unpleasant skin parasites, fungi and bacteria. Another explanation, which does not rule out the previous one, could be that the ants are made to secrete their formic acid in this way, making them edible for the birds and therefore safe to eat.