Vidua fischeri
The Straw-tailed Whydah, *Vidua fischeri*, is a small, finch-like passerine renowned for its striking breeding plumage and obligate brood parasitic lifestyle. Adult males in breeding condition exhibit a glossy black body adorned with a spectacular, elongated, straw-yellow tail, which can reach up to 25-30 cm in length, contrasting sharply with its approximately 10-12 cm body. Non-breeding males and females are much plainer, displaying streaky brown plumage, often resembling sparrows, making i...
Primarily inhabits dry savannas, acacia and thorn scrub, and semi-arid bushlands, often favoring areas with scattered trees or thickets. Found at low to mid-elevations, typically below 1,500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on small grass seeds, which it gleans from the ground or picks directly from seed heads. Occasionally supplements its diet with small insects, especially during the breeding season.
Straw-tailed Whydahs are diurnal, generally gregarious outside the breeding season, often forming mixed-species flocks. During the breeding season, polygynous males establish territories, from which they perform elaborate aerial displays, characterized by a slow, fluttering flight with their long...
The Straw-tailed Whydah is endemic to East Africa, inhabiting a broad band of dry savanna and acacia-dominated woodlands. Its breeding range spans across Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, eastern Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Within this extensive distribution, it is generally considere...
Least Concern
- The male Straw-tailed Whydah's spectacular straw-yellow tail can be twice the length of its body during the breeding season. - It is an obligate brood parasite, meaning it lays its eggs exclusively in the nests of other bird species, primarily the Purple Grenadier. - Male whydahs learn the song...