Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, also known as the Eastern Paradise Whydah, is a small passerine bird with a rather unassuming appearance outside of the breeding season. These birds are characterized by their short, stubby bills and are primarily granivorous, feeding on seeds that have ripened and fallen to the ground.

Identification Tips

Distinguishing between male and female Long-tailed Paradise Whydahs can be challenging when they are not in breeding plumage. Generally, the birds resemble ordinary sparrows with short tails. Females typically have grey bills and greyish-brown feathers with blackish streaks, and their under tail feathers are more white. Males, outside of the breeding season, have browner plumage with black stripes on the crown, black facial markings, and a deeper brown chest with a creamier abdomen. During breeding, males undergo a dramatic transformation, developing black heads and backs, rusty colored breasts, bright yellow napes, and white abdomens. Their most striking feature is the elongated black tail feathers, which can grow up to 36 centimeters or more.

Habitat

These birds inhabit grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands, preferring bushed grassland areas around cultivation. They tend to avoid proximity to surface waters.

Distribution

The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is found across Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is a resident species.

Behaviour

Long-tailed Paradise Whydahs are social birds, often roosting in flocks during both breeding and non-breeding seasons. They are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other songbirds without destroying the original eggs. Males have the ability to mimic the songs of their host species, which plays a role in mating.

Song & Calls

Males are adept at mimicking the songs of their host species, which females use to select their mates. The mimicry is so precise that females respond more strongly to songs mimicked by males of their own species than to closely related species.

Breeding

These birds are brood parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other songbirds, particularly those of the Viduidae and Estrildidae families. The males' breeding plumage and song mimicry are crucial for attracting mates.

Similar Species

The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah can be confused with other members of the Viduidae family, but its long tail during breeding season and song mimicry are distinctive.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah consists mainly of small seeds. They employ a "double scratch" technique to uncover seeds on the ground and use their tongues to dehusk grass seeds one at a time.

Conservation status

The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, indicating a stable population throughout its extensive range.