The violet-eared waxbill or common grenadier (Granatina granatina) is a common species of estrildid finch found in drier land of Southern Africa.

In the wild, these birds make round shaped nests in thorn bushes that are lined with feathers and 3-5 eggs laid. They are brood hosts for the Shaft-tailed Whydah, raising the chicks as if they were their own. Both birds incubate the eggs and the cock sometimes brings a feather to the hen when he replaced her, as a gift of sorts.