Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Vidua obtusa, presents a striking figure, particularly during the breeding season. The male, resplendent with elongated tail feathers that sweep behind him, measures an impressive 31–36 cm in length. Outside of the breeding season, and in the case of females, the size is a more modest 14–15 cm. The male is further distinguished by a chestnut-orange patch gracing the nape of his neck.

Identification Tips

In breeding plumage, the male Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is unmistakable with his long, broad tail feathers that end in rounded tips. When not in breeding attire, males and females alike exhibit buffy underparts and grey-brown upperparts with streaks. Their heads are adorned with black and white stripes. The immature birds resemble the females but have less distinct patterns and some feathers edged in buffy tones.

Habitat

This species favors woodlands and acacia savannas, including miombo and Baikiaea plurijuga woodlands, as its preferred habitats.

Distribution

The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is a resident of Sub-Saharan Africa, with its range extending from Angola to Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Its estimated distribution spans over 5,060,000 km², sharing approximately half of this range with the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah.

Behaviour

As a brood parasite, the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah lays its eggs in the nests of the Orange-winged Pytilia, leaving the unwitting host to raise its young. The whydah is known to mimic the call of its host species. It is a sociable bird, often feeding on the ground in small flocks and consuming seeds. Outside of the breeding season, it may associate with flocks of the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah.

Song & Calls

The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah skillfully mimics the calls of its host species, the Orange-winged Pytilia, as part of its parasitic strategy.

Breeding

Breeding males can be observed from February to July in the southeastern Congo Basin. The whydah's eggs are white and weigh around 1.6 g. The chicks are born with loose greyish down, closely resembling the chicks of their host species. The periods of incubation and nestling development remain undocumented.

Similar Species

The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah shares a portion of its range with the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah and may be encountered in mixed flocks when neither is breeding.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah consists primarily of seeds, which it forages from the ground in small groups.

Conservation Status

With a wide distribution and a stable population trend, the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.