Straw-tailed Whydah

Vidua fischeri

Other Names

  Fischer's Whydah   Veuve de Fischer   Strohwitwe     Spetsstjärtad änka   Fischer's Wida   Vedova di Fischer

World: Africa: a bird of Eastern and NE regions. Its range extends from Central Tanzania, N through Kenya, NE Uganda to SE Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Kenya: Inhabits dry brush, particularly Commiphora and Acacia, below 2000m. Mostly absent E of 39°E except in the far NE of the country.

This whydah parasitises the Purple Grenadier. It is a conspicuous and active bird which feeds by scraping up seeds from the ground. It is argumentative and will chase other birds. The bird pictured above is a male in full breeding plumage, out of breeding colour it loses its long tail and the red bill and feet become a paler shade of pink. The rest of the bird loses the striking black and buff markings becoming just another "little brown job".