Cardinal Quelea

The Cardinal Quelea, a diminutive bird roughly 10 centimeters in length, bears a resemblance to sparrows and is distinguished by its short, robust black bill. During the breeding season, the male is adorned with a striking red head that extends onto the breast but halts before the streaked nape. In contrast, the female exhibits a yellowish face with brow stripes and throat. Outside of the breeding season, the male's plumage mirrors that of the female, albeit with remnants of red on the head.

Identification Tips

To identify the Cardinal Quelea, look for the male's vibrant red head and chest during the breeding season, which does not extend to the streaked nape. Females and non-breeding males can be recognized by their yellowish facial features and the male's residual red on the head.

Habitat

This species thrives in the regions of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Distribution

The Cardinal Quelea is indigenous to a swath of East Africa, encompassing countries such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Behaviour

These birds are colonial breeders, indicating a social structure where many pairs nest in proximity to each other.

Taxonomy

First described by Gustav Hartlaub in 1880 as Hyphantica cardinalis, the Cardinal Quelea was later placed in the genus Queleopsis by Hans von Boetticher in 1951 due to its distinct differences from the Red-billed Quelea. Its Swahili name is "kwelea kidari-chekundu."

Phylogeny

DNA analysis reveals that the Cardinal Quelea and the Red-headed Quelea form a clade, which is closely related to the Red-billed Quelea. The genus Quelea is part of the true weavers (subfamily Ploceinae) and is most closely related to the genus Foudia from the western Indian Ocean islands and the Asian species of the genus Ploceus.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Cardinal Quelea as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction in the wild.