Purple Grenadier

Uraeginthus ianthinogaster

Other Names

    Cordonbleu violacé, Grenadin à poitrine bleue   Veilchenastrild   Granadina púrpura   Granatastrild   Purpergranaat astrilde, Viooltjesastrilde   Granatino violaceo

World: E and NE Africa from S Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia down through Kenya, NE Uganda to E Tanzania.

Kenya: Locally common, predominantly a bird of the highlands so mostly absent from the arid desert regions and the coast.

This is a highly distinctive bird whether you're looking at the male or female. The male is a deep violet-blue colour below with bright blue on the face. The female (pictured above) has less blue on the body but does have the striking silvery eye markings you can see in the picture. It is generally considered to be a rather secretive bird and its habit of foraging in undergrowth can make it difficult to spot. However around many lodges it has become accustomed to people and will come quite close to pick up crumbs.