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A photo of a Shaft-tailed Whydah (Vidua regia), male
Shaft-tailed Whydah, Male

Shaft-tailed Whydah

Vidua regia

The shaft-tailed whydah or queen whydah (Vidua regia) is a small, sparrow-like bird in the genus Vidua. During the breeding season the male has black crown and upper body plumage, golden breast and four elongated black tail shaft feathers with expanded tips. After the breeding season is over, the male sheds its long tail and grows olive brown female-like plumage. The shaft-tailed whydah is distributed in open habitats and grasslands of Southern Africa, from south Angola to south Mozambique. It is a brood parasite to the violet-eared waxbill. The diet consists mainly of seeds. Widespread and a common species throughout its large habitat range, the shaft-tailed whydah is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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Shaft-tailed Whydahs on Birda

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Trevor Kleyn
Trevor Kleyn
Tuesday 21 Mar 2023 - 8:36am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Trevor Kleyn
Trevor Kleyn
Tuesday 14 Mar 2023 - 5:30am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Trevor Kleyn
Trevor Kleyn
Monday 13 Mar 2023 - 4:33am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Luke Kroon
Luke Kroon
Sunday 12 Mar 2023 - 7:33am
South Africa
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