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Pin-tailed Whydah

Vidua macroura

Photo by MaithiliSave
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

It is a small songbird. It is a resident breeding bird in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
This whydah is found in many open habitats including open woodland, scrub and cultivation.
It is a brood parasite which lays its eggs in the nests of estrildid finches, especially waxbills. Unlike the Common Cuckoo, it does not destroy the host's eggs. Typically, 2-4 eggs are added to those already present. The eggs of both the host and the firefinch are white, although the whydah's are slightly larger. The nestling whydahs mimic the gape pattern of the fledglings of the host species.

Notes:

Kruger National Park

Species ID Suggestions

Pin-tailed Whydah

Vidua macroura

Comments (1)

Photographed
PublishedMarch 11, 2013

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