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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

black & white bird with orange beak and very long tail feathers (1 Viewer)

I wish I had my camera with me. I thought no one would believe it if I told them. The orange beak made me think tropical so I thought it might be an escapee from someone or somewhere. I own an escapee parakeet that I found walking along a sidewalk one day when I was walking. This Pin-tailed Whydah was a very interesting bird. I will look for it again!
 
I have spotted this bird, Pin-tailed Whydah at my feeder the last 2 days. Took me 2 days to find identification but ID is perfect. Please explain this bird being in Southern California & tell me its fate with probably not having a mate? Or is a mate possible in my area? Enjoying the watch of this "looker".
 
Got one in my garden

Hi all. I came across this thread while trying to find the name of the same species. I have one in my garden in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is fairly aggressive toward birds many times his size and rules the feeder, despite being one of the smallest (if you don't count the tail). He has been living in the area (probably in the same tree as the feeder) for at least 3 months.He seems protective of three small brown and black speckled birds, but chases a 4th similar bird away. Any possible explanation? :king:
 
Another sighting

I saw this same type of bird in my Madison, WI backyard on July 7, 2013. What a wild sight, that tail is really something and still there after you rub your eyes! Could not find it in my bird book. Did anyone ever identify it? It flew into my yard with a flock of House sparrows. Fed on the ground under the bird feeder for a few minutes, then flew up and perched in a spruce tree.
 
Hi Sophie - yes your bird is a mae Pin-tailed Whydah, from Africa originally but a popular cagebird unfortunately.
Welcome to BF
 
Hi Ehllene - those small brown birds sound like females to me, they aren't nearly as pretty as the males ;-) Not sure why he doesn't like the 4th!
 
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