The Violet-eared Waxbill inhabits thickets, woodland, and savanna in southern Africa. Males have a blue forehead and violet cheeks against a chestnut body, and the species feeds mainly on seeds.
The adult male has a chestnut crown and body, a deep blue forehead, and violet cheeks and ear coverts. The female is brown above and cream to fawn below, with a pale blue forehead.
It lives in thickets, woodland, and savanna. It feeds mainly on seeds taken from the ground or grass heads, and also eats insects.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.