Quelea cardinalis
The Cardinal Quelea, *Quelea cardinalis*, is a small, vibrant passerine belonging to the weaver family (Ploceidae), known for its striking sexual dimorphism. Measuring approximately 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 inches) in length and weighing around 15-20g, breeding males are easily identified by their brilliant scarlet-red head, breast, and nape, contrasted with a distinct black mask encircling the eyes, a brown back, and a pale underbelly. Females and non-breeding males adopt a much duller, sparrow-lik...
Found primarily in open grasslands, savannas, cultivated fields, and floodplains, often in proximity to water bodies or reedbeds, typically at elevations ranging from lowlands up to around 2,000 meters.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on a wide array of grass seeds and cereal grains; during the breeding season, they supplement their diet with insects, particularly to feed their young. Foraging mainly involves gleaning seeds from the ground or directly from seed heads.
The Cardinal Quelea is a highly social bird, often forming large, cohesive flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other small granivorous species. During the breeding season, they become colonial breeders, with males engaging in elaborate courtship displays to attract mates, wh...
The Cardinal Quelea is endemic to East Africa, possessing a relatively widespread but disjunct distribution. Its breeding range extends across a band of savanna and grassland habitats, primarily encompassing south-eastern Sudan, western and southern Ethiopia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,...
Least Concern
- The breeding male Cardinal Quelea's brilliant red plumage is among the most striking colorations found in African passerines. - Unlike its infamous cousin, the Red-billed Quelea, which is considered a major agricultural pest, the Cardinal Quelea rarely forms flocks large enough to cause signifi...