Orange bishop

Euplectes franciscanus

Photo by Henrique Pires (Flickr)

Common name:
orange bishop (en); bispo-laranja (pt); euplecte franciscain (fr); obispo anaranjado (es); feuerwida (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family  Ploceidae

Range:
This species is found along the Sahel belt in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Mauritania to Liberia and east to Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia. It has been introduced to the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico, Martinique and Guadeloupe, as well as Bermuda and Japan

Size:
These birds are 11-15 cm long and weigh 11-16 g.

Habitat:
The orange bishop is mostly found in wet, tropical grasslands, but also in dry grasslands, dry savannas and arable land.

Diet:
They feed mainly on green and ripe seeds of various grasses and small scrubs, which they pick directly from the plant. They also hunt insects during the breeding season.

Breeding:
Orange bishops are polygamous and form small breeding colonies. The nest is a globe made of grasses, suspended from a scrub near the ground. The female lays 2-5 white eggs which she incubates alone for 12 days. She raises the chicks alone, until they fledge 13-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common to abundant throughout this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.