I have photographed this species several times, but most often at a medium distance. It is a relatively common finch - also as a cage bird in Europe. This time, however, it was peacefully perched in a thorny tree right next to the road, and we could drive close by with the jeep. Thus I got a close-up view from below - with a lot of blue sky as a background. The most typical of this species is of course the red throat band that gave it its name; in English associated with the blood from a cut throat... However, only the male features this red band; the female is creamy white on its throat. The food consists of grass seeds, now and then complemented by termites. During non-breeding times, it often appears in flock.