Steel-blue Whydah
Vidua hypocherina
A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Black-cheeked and Black-faced Waxbills. As with other whydahs, breeding males are distinctive, whereas non-breeding males and females are drab and inconspicuous. Breeding males are glossy blue-black with elongated central tail feathers. Non-breeding males and females have a brownish back, a heavily striped face, and a whitish bill and legs. Generally uncommon in rather dry savanna and woodland. Non-breeding male and female can be cautiously separated from other whydahs and indigobirds by their pale bill and legs. Not very vocal, but does imitate the waxbills that it parasitizes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Vidua hypocherina
- Authority
- Verreaux, J & Verreaux, É, 1856
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Viduidae
- Genus
- Vidua
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Greater Bird-of-Paradise
Paradisaea apoda
A large bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge. Male has a black breast and white and yellow plumes which he raises above his back during his display, in which he variably hops about and flaps his wings, then holds them out still. May overlap slightly with Lesser and Emperor birds-of-paradise but male Greater is larger and lacks a yellow back. Female Greater is distinguished from other species by its all brown body. Male gives a typical, repeated nasal squawk.
Buff-necked Ibis
Theristicus caudatus
Stocky ibis. Very similar to Black-faced Ibis but no range overlap. Back and wings mostly gray with black belly and contrasting buffy neck and head. Long decurved bill and pink legs. Usually found in pairs or small groups, in open habitats like pastures and savannas. Often far from water, unlike most other ibis.
Tooth-billed Wren
Odontorchilus cinereus
Slender, inconspicuous wren with a long tail, recalling a gnatcatcher. Has rather dull plumage: gray above, very pale grayish below, with a brownish crown. Note the dark bars on the tail. Forages high in the canopy of humid forests and almost invariably accompanies mixed-species flocks. Sings a loud series of “tsee” notes repeated continually.
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