 There has been two major radiations within this family, one occurring in Africa and one in Australia.The family Estrildidae is believed to have originated in India which then later dispersed to these two continents.The painted finch is a small passerine that is 10–12 cm in length and weighs around 11.5 g. Male painted finches have a red forehead and face that stand out in contrast to the black breast of individuals.