About the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah
The long-tailed paradise whydah or eastern paradise whydah is a bird in the family Viduidae of the order Passeriformes. It is a small passerine with a short, stubby bill, found across eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia south to South Africa and west to Angola. It is mostly granivorous, and feed on seeds that have ripened and fallen on the ground. The ability to distinguish between males and females is quite difficult unless it is breeding season. During this time, the males moult into breeding plumage where they have a distinctive long tail. This can be up to three times longer than its own body or even more. Males are able to mimic songs where females can use that to discover their…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Breeding male long-tailed paradise whydahs have black heads and back, a rusty coloured breast, a bright buffy-yellow nape, and white abdomen with broad, elongated black tail feathers that can grow up to 36 cm or more. When in non-breeding plumage, males are hard to distinguish from females, and in general, from other Viduidae species, as these differ from one another in size, in non-breeding plumage and colour, and in the songs used for mating.. Usually, they are about 13 cm in length and weigh about 21 grams.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Sudan.
When to see the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah
Peak activity in February · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Village IndigobirdVidua chalybeataThe village indigobird is 11–12 cm in length.
Shaft-tailed WhydahVidua regiaThe shaft-tailed whydah or queen whydah is a small, sparrow-like bird in the genus Vidua.
Dusky IndigobirdVidua funereaThe dusky indigobird, variable indigobird, or black widowfinch is a species of bird in the family Viduidae.
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