From Opus

Photo by Charlie M
Location: Near Johannesburg, South Africa

Euplectes progne

[edit] Identification

Length 16-19 cm (breeding male 60 cm), mass 25-46 g. The largest widowbird.

The breeding male unmistakeable with its long tail, broad black wings and red-and-white shoulders.

[edit] Distribution

Africa: Three separate populations: One in the Kenyan highlands, one from Angola, northern Zambia and extreme southern Democratic Republic of Congo, and another from eastern South Africa, Lesotho, western Swaziland and extreme south-eastern Botswana.

[edit] Taxonomy

Each of the three populations is recognised as a subspecies:

• E. p. delamerei

• Kenya

• E. p. ansorgei

• Angola, northern Zambia and extreme southern Democratic Republic of Congo

• E. p. progne

• South Africa, Lesotho, western Swaziland and extreme south-eastern Botswana

[edit] Habitat

Open tall grassland, usually in valleys.

[edit] Behaviour

Forages in flacks on the ground, mainly for seeds, but also eats invertebrates.

[edit] Breeding

Polygynous and territorial; up to five females per breeding male. The nest is thick-walled, oval structure of woven grass and has a side-top entrance. One to four eggs are incubated for 12-14 days by the female. The nestling period is about 17 days. Sometimes parasitised by Dideric Cuckoo.

[edit] External Links