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Photo by Reini
Tendaba area, The Gambia, November 2005

Macrodipteryx longipennis

Identification

20-23cm. Variegated grey, with a brown collar. The adult male has a wing ornament during the breeding season, with a broad central flight feather on each wing elongated to 38cm, much longer than the bird's body. 20cm or more of this is bare shaft. In normal flight, these feathers trail behind, but in display flight they are raised vertically like standards.

Distribution

Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Dry savannas, with some scrub.

Behaviour

No nest is made; the 2 elongated and elliptical eggs are placed upon the bare ground.

The diet includes moths and beetles.

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