Purple Grenadier

Overview

The purple grenadier, Granatina ianthinogaster, is a common species of estrildid finch native to eastern Africa. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,500,000 km².

Identification

• Length averages 13.3 cm.
• Males feature a cinnamon-coloured head and neck with a blue patch around the eye, a purplish-blue rump, violet-blue underparts with variable rufous patches, a black tail, and a red bill.
• Females are smaller, predominantly cinnamon brown with white barring on the underparts and silver-blue eyepatches.
• Song in Kenya is described as "a high, thin chit-cheet tsereea-ee-ee tsit-tsit, or cheerer cheet tsee-tsee sur-chit."

Habitat

This species inhabits subtropical and tropical lowland dry shrubland. Its range encompasses Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Did you know?

The bird's scientific name, Granatina ianthinogaster, reflects its striking colouration, as 'ianthinogaster' refers to a violet-blue belly, matching the male's violet-blue underparts.