Eastern paradise-whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Photo by Marco Valentini (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
eastern paradise-whydah (en); viúva-do-paraíso-oriental (pt); veuve de paradis (fr); viuda del paraíso (es); spitzschwanz-paradieswitwe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Viduidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, in the Sahel region from Senegal and southern Mauritania to Ethiopia, than south through Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, and into southern Angola, northern Namibia, Mozambique, eastern Botswana and north-eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 13-15 cm long, but the elongated tail feathers of the males add another 36-40 cm to this length. They weigh 20-22 g.

Habitat:
The eastern paradise-whydah is mostly found in dry, open savannas, such as Acacia, miombo and mopane, also using scrublands, moist tropical forests, arable land and rural gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.400 m.

Diet:
They feed on the seeds of various grasses and herbs, such as Panicum, Hyparrhenia, Melitis Sonchus, Synphytum, Taraxacum and Rumex. They also eat some invertebrates such as fly larvae, moths, spiders and earthworms.

Breeding:
The eastern paradise-whydah breeds mostly in January-June. They are polygynous, with males mating with multiple females. They are brood parasites, the females laying 1-3 eggs on the nest of a host, often green-winged pytilia Pytilia melba, or sometimes violet-eared waxbill Uraeginthus granatina. The eggs are incubated by the hosts for 11 days. The chicks mimic the host's young in aspect and behaviour and are fed by the hosts. They fledge 16 day after hatching but only become fully independent 2 weeks later.

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

Village indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Photo by Rob Nagtegaal (PBase)

Common name:
village indigobird (en); viúva-azul (pt); combassou du Sénégal (fr); viuda de la villa (es); rotfuß-Atlaswitwe (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Viduidae


Range:
This African species is found from Senegal to Ethiopia, and south through Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi and into Mozambique, eastern Botswana and north-eastern South Africa.


Size:
These birds are 11-12 cm long and weigh 12-13 g.


Habitat:
Village indigobirds are mostly found in dry Acacia savannas and scrublands, especially along rivers, but also in sparse woodlands, plantation, arable land and gardens within human settlements.


Diet:
They mainly eat grass seeds, but will also take some insects.


Breeding:
In southern Africa the village indigobirds breeds in December-June. They are polygynous, with each male mating with several females. Village indigobirds are brood parasites, usually laying their eggs on the nests of the red-billed firefinch Lagonostica senegala, as well as other firefinch species such as the brown firefinch Lagonostica nitidula. Each female lays 1-4 eggs per day, for a total of 22-26 per season, and usually removes or eats the eggs of the hosts. The hosts incubate the eggs for 11-12 days and feed the chicks until they fledge, 17-18 days after hatching, and often continue to feed them for another 2 weeks.


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

Pin-tailed whydah

Vidua macroura

Common name:

pin-tailed whydah (en); viuvinha (pt); veuve dominicaine (fr); viuda colicinta (es); dominikanerwitwe (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Viduidae

Range:

These birds occur across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to southern Africa, where they are common across Zimbabwe, South Africa, patches of Mozambique and northern and eastern Botswana, while more scarce in Namibia.

Size:

Pin-tailed Whydahs are 12-13 cm in length, although the breeding male's tail adds another 20 cm to this. They weigh 14-19 g.

Habitat:

They generally prefer grassland, open savanna woodland, hillsides with scattered trees and bushes, sedges and rank grass along watercourses, cultivated croplands and gardens.

Diet:

Pin-tailed whydahs mainly eat grass seeds that they either take directly or uncover from the soil by scratching. They are know to take the seeds of Guinea grass Panicum maximum, water couch Paspalum distichum, Echinochloa, Urochloa and Setaria. These birds also eat filamentous algae and termite alates.

Breeding:

Pin-tailed whydahs are polygynous brood parasites, with each male assuming a territory centered on a perch, which it uses for calling and displaying. The breeding season varies across their range, but most eggs are layed in August-April. The female lays 2-4 eggs on the nest of other birds, namely common waxbill Estrilda astrild, orange-breasted waxbill Sporaeginthus subflavus, red-billed firefinch Lagonosticta senegala, bronze mannikin Spermestes cucullatus, neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla and tawny-flanked prinia Prinia subflava. The host incubates the eggs for 11 days and rears the chicks until fledging, which takes place 17-21 days after hatching. The young may remain with the host family for at least another week before joining a whydah flock.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

These birds have a very large breeding range and they are described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.