Northern Red Bishop

The Northern Red Bishop, or Orange Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus), is a small passerine bird, a member of the Ploceidae family. The breeding male is a spectacle of nature, adorned in a vibrant cloak of reddish-orange, contrasted sharply by black. This bird is a diminutive creature, measuring approximately 11 cm in length and weighing between 12-22 grams. The male's plumage is a badge of his breeding status, while females and non-breeding males are clad in more subdued brown and white feathers.

Identification Tips

Breeding males are unmistakable with their bright reddish-orange plumage extending from the back around the chin to the back of the head, throat, and breast. They possess a dark black crown, forehead, flank, and belly. Their tail and upper wings are brown, with pale legs and a black bill. Females and non-breeding males resemble a song sparrow with their brown and white feather pattern.

Habitat

The Northern Red Bishop favors tall grasslands and cultivated areas, often found near water and marshes. They are adaptable birds, inhabiting lowlands up to elevations of 1000 meters.

Distribution

This species is native to the northern African continent, with a range that includes numerous countries from Liberia to Kenya. It has also been introduced to Puerto Rico, the West Indies, and parts of the United States, such as southern California, Texas, and Hawaii.

Behaviour

The Northern Red Bishop is polygynous, with males displaying their plumage and engaging in display-flights to attract females. They are known for building globular nests where the female lines it for her offspring. Males do not participate in caring for or foraging for their young. Outside the breeding season, these birds form large flocks and may associate with other canaries or waxbills.

Song & Calls

The male's song during the breeding season is rather monotonous and may be absent altogether outside of this period. The neural structures involved in song control, the hyperstriatum ventralis (HVc) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), increase in volume during the breeding season, particularly in males.

Breeding

Males may mate with multiple females, constructing nests to entice them. The nests are made from grasses and reeds within marshy vegetation. Clutch sizes vary, with an average of 2-3 eggs. The breeding season is tied to the rainy season, which typically spans from November to March.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Northern Red Bishop consists mainly of grass seeds, with a preference for millet seeds. They also consume insects and have been observed feeding on aquatic vegetation and cocklebur. They forage on the ground or within grass and weed stems and may visit seed feeders in late winter and spring.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Northern Red Bishop as Least Concern, with a stable and widespread global population. There is no current estimate of the total population size.

Similar Species

The Northern Red Bishop can be confused with its sister species, the Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix), which resides in the southern part of Africa. However, the Northern Red Bishop is distinguished by the male's continuous red chin.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily seed-eaters, Northern Red Bishops have a penchant for grass seeds, including those of Echinochloa, Cortaderia, and Paspalum dilatatum. They also consume insects and occasionally visit seed feeders.

Conservation status

The Northern Red Bishop is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable and widespread population. There is no immediate threat to their survival, and they continue to thrive across their native and introduced ranges.