Vidua maryae
The Jos Plateau Indigobird (Vidua maryae) is a captivating passerine, measuring approximately 11-12 cm in length and weighing around 12-14 grams. Breeding males are striking, adorned in iridescent purplish-blue to almost black plumage with a bright red bill, contrasting starkly with their duller brown-streaked non-breeding counterparts and the females, which are predominantly streaky brown with a paler underside and a dark bill. A key identification feature for breeding males is their intense...
Found in rocky, open grassland and savanna habitats, often with scattered shrubs and trees, particularly favoring areas with the presence of its host, the Rock Firefinch. Typically occurs at elevations between 800 and 1,200 meters.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small grass seeds gleaned from the ground. May also consume small insects opportunistically, especially during the breeding season.
The Jos Plateau Indigobird exhibits typical diurnal activity, primarily foraging on the ground or low vegetation. Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, performing elaborate aerial displays and singing persistently from prominent perches to attract females and defend their small...
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is strictly endemic to the Jos Plateau in central Nigeria, West Africa. Its known distribution is limited to a relatively small area within Plateau State and adjacent parts of Kaduna State, typically at elevations ranging from approximately 800 to 1,200 meters above sea...
Least Concern
- The Jos Plateau Indigobird is an obligate brood parasite, meaning it never builds its own nest and relies entirely on other bird species to raise its young. - Its sole known host species is the Rock Firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis), a highly specialized co-evolutionary relationship. - ...