Red Avadavat

The red avadavat (Amandava amandava), red munia or strawberry finch, is a sparrow-sized bird of the family Estrildidae. A small and strikingly pretty finch. Males are largely red and covered in white spots with dark wings and tail. Females are gray with a rufous rump. Both sexes have a red beak. They give a very musical song and a high "teei" call. Usually found in grassy areas close to water and often near human habitation, particularly areas with wet rice paddies. The species name of amandava and the common name of avadavat are derived from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, from where these birds were exported into the pet trade in former times.