About Foudia rubra (Gmelin, 1789)
This bird measures 14 centimetres (5.5 in) in length. Breeding males have an olive brown base color, with red markings on the head, breast, and rump patch, and black lores. Females, non-breeding males, and juveniles are olive brown, with white wing bars and a brown bill. This species inhabits multiple types of forest, including degraded forest areas, as well as plantations. Stands of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), which have replaced native vegetation in some areas, now provide this bird with protection against predators. Its diet includes insects such as grasshoppers, beetle larvae, and caterpillars, as well as spiders. Some individuals regularly eat berries. It also feeds on nectar on a regular basis, using its specialized brush-tipped tongue to do so. This species is a weaver bird; both males and females cooperate to weave each nest from materials including grass, moss, and small twigs.
