This very small finch inhabits wetlands and wet grasslands in sub-Saharan Africa. It is diurnal and feeds on plant seeds while foraging on the ground.
It is a small bird about 9–10 cm long.
It is a diurnal ground-dweller in freshwater swamps and wet grasslands and feeds on plant seeds.
In southern Africa, it builds a ball-shaped nest of fine grass blades with a side entrance and a feather lining, placed just above the ground in a grass tuft in a marsh.
In southern Africa, it moves widely during the dry season in search of moist habitat.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.