Bird Guide

Northern Red Bishop vs Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Northern Red Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus)

Northern Red Bishop

Euplectes franciscanus

Small16 gGrassland

This short-tailed bishop is small in size, about 11 cm and weighing about 12-22 grams. The striking red-orange feathers are produced by pigments derived from compounds in their diet. Specifically, the yellow, orange, and red pigments originate from compounds called carotenoids, which are very diet-dependent. Lutein and two red fractions (R1 and R2) derived from lutein are the two dominating carotenoids that contribute to the bird's pigment in the wild. Northern red bishops held in captivity lack the R2 red fraction carotenoid from their diet.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Daniel S. Katz · CC BY 4.0
Yellow-mantled Widowbird (Euplectes macroura)

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

Small22 gGrassland

Males are larger than females and acquire longer tails and striking black and golden yellow plumages in the breeding season. The mantle colour is either golden yellow, or in the case of the northeastern race, E. m. macrocercus, black. The yellow shoulders persist in all male plumages, whether breeding or non-breeding.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by 116916927065934112165 · cc-by

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Northern Red Bishop and Yellow-mantled Widowbird.