Indigobirds, Whydahs

Indigobirds and whydahs are part of the Viduidae family, small finch-like African birds known for their mainly black or indigo plumage; the breeding males of whydahs feature notably long tails. They are unique as obligate brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches, preferring firefinches or pytilias, depending on the species, without harming the host's eggs. Recognizing hosts is crucial; for instance, the village indigobird is often associated with red-billed firefinches. These birds' remarkable ability to mimic their host's song is essential for mating; females select males that sing the same song, maintaining the species-specific parasitic relationship. Speciation within this group is largely driven by their host matching, indicating they are recently evolved species. The Viduidae family encompasses two genera: Vidua, which includes various indigobirds like the village, purple, Jambandu, and different types of whydahs, such as the pin-tailed and shaft-tailed; and Anomalospiza, with the cuckoo-finch, also known as the parasitic weaver.