Wonderful birds come from all over the world, but surely no continent can quite equal Africa in its exotic colouring and variety of form in its finches.
They range from the tiny firefinches in rich and diverse reds , the cordon bleus in blue echoing the tints of even the brightest sky, and other waxbills in infinite variety of colours
Weavers with the wonders of their woven nests, the unrivalled brilliance of reds and yellows set against the black velvet of bishops, to the widows and the whydahs of eclipse plumage, in nuptial summer dress alone, sporting their long flowing tails in lustrous black, but for the Fisher’s whydah with his plumes in light yellow, rivalling some exotic firework.
Fred Barnicoat is a founder member of the Rare Finch Conservation Group. He is a retired Latin teacher and is the person who gave the group its official name .
Photo taken by Eelco Meyjes
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