Steel-blue Whydah

Vidua hypocherina

Other Names

    Veuve métallique   Glanzwitwe     Praktänka     Vedova Combassù

World: Africa: From the extreme SE corner of Sudan, Ethiopia, W Somalia and South through NE Uganda, Kenya as far S as central Tanzania.

Kenya: Found in bushy habitats below 1400m. Uncommon across most of its range with highest numbers recorded in the plateaux surrounding the highlands.

Parasitises the Black-cheeked and Black-faced Waxbills (and possibly also the Crimson-rumped Waxbill with which its range seems to overlap most closely). It may also parasitise other members of the Estrilidae. This is a mostly solitary bird found alone or in pairs except at waterholes or where there is a concentration of suitable food. There is some evidence to suggest that this species may be a mimic and a variety of calls have been recorded for this bird.

The bird pictured above is a male in full breeding plumage. Non-breeding males and females are small brown birds distinguished from other Whydahs by their small pale-coloured bills.