Euplectes hartlaubi
The Marsh Widowbird (*Euplectes hartlaubi*) is a striking member of the weaver family (Ploceidae), renowned for the dramatic sexual dimorphism it displays during the breeding season. Breeding males are unmistakable, sporting a glossy black plumage with vibrant yellow or orange-yellow shoulder patches, and an extraordinarily long, often curved, black tail that can reach up to 20 cm – almost twice their body length of 13-15 cm. Females and non-breeding males, by contrast, are cryptically streak...
This species predominantly inhabits moist grasslands, marshes, swampy areas, and wet savannas, often found near permanent water bodies or in reedbeds, typically occurring at low to mid-elevations up to 2000 meters.
Marsh Widowbirds primarily feed on seeds from grasses and sedges, which they glean directly from the plant heads. During the breeding season, their diet is supplemented with insects, especially grasshoppers and beetles, to provide protein for their young.
Marsh Widowbirds are diurnal, spending their days foraging and displaying. Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, vigorously defending their breeding territories, which include preferred display perches and potential nest sites. Their most remarkable behavior is the male's elabo...
The Marsh Widowbird has a somewhat disjunct distribution across central and eastern Africa. Its primary breeding range includes populations in the highlands of Cameroon, parts of Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Further east, significant populations are found in...
Least Concern
- The breeding male's tail can be up to twice his body length, making it one of the most exaggerated avian tails for display. - Males are polygynous, meaning one male mates with multiple females, each building her own nest within his territory. - Their elaborate "bouncing" aerial display, where t...