If birds held a fashion contest, the male Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) would undoubtedly take home the trophy. One look at him and you might wonder whether a tiny sparrow accidentally fell into a bucket of red paint and then decided to accessorise with white polka dots.

The female, in contrast, wears a more practical outfit. Her soft brown plumage helps her blend effortlessly into the grass. The male is a big showoff; he likes to announce his presence, ba adab ba mulahiza hoshiyaar, shaenshah e husn tashreef la rahe hain. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand by. His Royal Handsomeness, the undisputed King of Good Looks, is now making a grand entrance!

These little birds are bundles of energy, constantly chirping, hopping, foraging, and performing random jumps that make them look like tiny feathered acrobats. One moment, it is perched neatly on a grass stem; the next, it vanishes completely into the vegetation. A happy sight for nature lovers, the Red Avadavat is both a delight and a challenge for wildlife photographers. You spot one, slowly raise your camera, carefully focus, and just as you are about to press the shutter, the bird disappears. Five minutes later, it reappears behind you, looking thoroughly pleased with itself, as if it has been playing a game of peek-a-boo. Red Avadavats usually gather in small flocks, fluttering from stem to stem and rarely staying still for more than a few seconds.

The Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava), also known as the Red Munia or Strawberry Finch, is a sparrow-sized bird in the family Estrildidae.

Photos and text by Prerna Jain.