African crimson-winged finch brown breast and flank markings on Asian birds are more extensive than on African birds; and African birds have less black on the crown than Asian birds (on males it often tends to be restricted to the forecrown). Male birds also differ compared to the Asian birds in that they lack the extensive pink in their uppertail-coverts, no black spots on their breast-sides; less distinct black markings on the mantle and ear-coverts and almost no red on the face. African crimson-winged finch The African crimson-winged finch ("Rhodopechys alienus"), is a pale-colored thickset finch with a heavy, dull yellowish bill. It
Purple-backed fairywren ear tufts are prominently featured in breeding displays. The male in breeding plumage has striking bright blue ear coverts and blue-purple crown and forehead, a black throat and nape, a blue-purple upper back, chestnut shoulders and a bluish-grey tail. The wings are drab brown and the belly white. Within subspecies "assimilis", the plumage of both sexes is becomes paler from east to west across its range, with those of northwestern Australia paler still. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles of subspecies "assimilis" are predominantly grey-brown in colour, while those of subspecies "rogersi" and "dulcis" are mainly blue-grey. Males of all subspecies