Namibia - April - Whydah / Bishop (1 Viewer)

[Jacob12]

Here's a bird from Avis Dam in Windhoek, Namibia last week. It looks like it's transitioning out of breeding plumage? I initially passed it over as a red bishop (and it still could be), but the colour, shape, and general feel are wrong for me.

Usually, when I'm looking at strange passerines, they turn out to be whydahs. This would have to be an Eastern Paradise since the Shaft Tailed Whydah never gets a red bill and the Pin Tailed never has reddish legs. That ID still doesn't feel solid to me, especially since the breast looks like dark feathers are either coming or going.

Someone on iNat suggested a Cuckoo Finch, but that would be way out of range and doesn't feel like a good match either?

I'd love any further suggestions.

 

[Butty]

Usually . . . they turn out to be whydahs. This would have to be an Eastern Paradise

Head-pattern quite wrong.

Shaft Tailed Whydah never gets a red bill

I don't follow. This bird doesn't have a red bill.

Pin Tailed never has reddish legs

Head-pattern quite wrong.

breast looks like dark feathers are either coming or going

Just dark feather-bases showing among ruffled feathers - not dark feathers as such.

Prominent features are deep-based blackish bill and finely-streaked crown with no stripes on head. That seems to knock out everything in the vicinity except southern red bishop and yellow-crowned bishop - black bill because it's an out-of-plumage male.