White-winged Widowbird

The White-winged Widowbird, Euplectes albonotatus, is a passerine bird of striking sexual dimorphism, particularly during the breeding season. The male transforms from yellow plumage to a darker hue, with an increase in white feathers, creating a stark contrast to the female's paler coloration.

Identification Tips

Males can be identified by their short tails and distinctive white wing coverts. Breeding males differ from the Yellow-mantled Widowbird by their shorter tails, wing color, absence of yellow on the back, and a paler bill. Females are characterized by their paleness below.

Habitat

This species thrives in a variety of environments including savannas, grasslands, wetlands, and even cultivated lands.

Distribution

The White-winged Widowbird is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, with sightings in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Behaviour

Polygynous by nature, a male White-winged Widowbird typically mates with 3 to 4 females and is known to live in flocks. Males are solely responsible for constructing the oval nests in trees or shrubs.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of this bird include a series of "zeh-zeh-zeh" and "witz-witz-witz" calls.

Breeding

Nesting occurs from November to May, peaking between December and March. Females lay clutches of two to four white eggs, incubating them for 12 to 14 days. Post-hatching, the female feeds the chicks in the nest for 11 to 14 days, with fledglings gaining independence after 22 to 25 days.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of grass seeds, nectar, and insects, with the female predominantly responsible for feeding the young.

Conservation status

The White-winged Widowbird is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.