Shaft-tailed Whydah

Name

Shaft-tailed whydah - Vidua regia

Shaft-tailed Whydah Appearance

The Shaft-tailed Whydah is a small bird, around 13 cm in length. The male Shaft-tailed Whydah in breeding plumage has a long tail, up to 16 cm in length, made up of 4 feathers, ending with a flag feather.

The breeding male has a black back and crown. The rest of his plumage is golden in colour.

The bill is red and the legs are a pink to red colour. The female and non-breeding male Shaft-tailed Whydah have a dark brown crown with rusty coloured streaks. The bill and feet are pink in colour.

Shaft-tailed Whydah Diet

The Shaft-tailed Whydah feeds on seeds.

Shaft-tailed Whydah Breeding

The Shaft-tailed Whydah is polygynous, with the male having several females in his group. This whydah is a brood parasite and the female lays her eggs in the nest of a waxbill.

The violet-eared waxbill (Granatina granatina) being the primary host and the black-faced waxbill (Estrilda erythronotos) being the secondary host.

Shaft-tailed Whydah Behaviour

When singing or calling, the shaft-tailed whydah will mimic the violet-eared waxbill’s call.

Threats

None – Classified as least concern.

Distribution and Habitat

The Shaft-tailed Whydah is found in arid and semi-arid acacia woodlands and can be seen in the north of South Africa, in the following provinces, Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo.