The long-tailed widowbird, Euplectes progne, is a striking medium-sized bird belonging to the weaver family Ploceidae. It is known for its remarkable appearance and is found across various African landscapes.
Distinctive Appearance and Habitat
Long-tailed widowbirds display sexual dimorphism. Adult breeding males are almost entirely black, featuring distinct orange and white patches on their shoulders, often described as “epaulets.” Their bill is a bluish-white color, contrasting with their dark plumage. The most notable feature of the male is its exceptionally long tail, which can measure up to half a meter (approximately 20 inches) in length, formed by six to eight of its twelve tail feathers.
Female long-tailed widowbirds have a more subdued coloration. Their feathers are streaked with brown and black, and they exhibit lighter patches on their chest and back. Females possess narrow tail feathers and horn-colored bills. These birds are found in various Southern African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia. They prefer swampy grasslands and can be found at elevations up to 2,750 meters (9,022 feet).
Mating Displays and Reproduction
The long-tailed widowbird’s mating system is polygynous. During the breeding season, which typically stretches from October to April in South Africa, males defend territories in the grasslands. Females spend considerable time assessing these territories and the males within them before selecting a mate.
Male long-tailed widowbirds engage in elaborate aerial courtship displays to attract females, flying slowly over their grassland territories with their extraordinarily long tails drooping and spread. This dramatic tail length is a significant factor in female mate choice; females prefer males with the longest tails, a preference demonstrated experimentally.
Females are responsible for constructing the nests, which are dome-shaped structures woven into tall, dense grass in wetlands or along rivers. These nests are typically lined with seedheads and are positioned 0.5 to 1 meter (19 to 40 inches) off the ground within the upper part of tall grasses. The female incubates one to four eggs for about two weeks. Chicks fledge at just over two weeks old but remain dependent on their mother for an additional two weeks as their flying abilities develop.
Diet and Behavior
Long-tailed widowbirds primarily feed on seeds, supplementing their diet with insects, which they may occasionally hawk from the air. Foraging typically occurs on the ground, often in flocks.
Outside of the breeding season, long-tailed widowbirds are social birds. They congregate into flocks and often roost together in reed beds. During the day, they are active, with most of their foraging activities taking place in these social groups. While males fiercely defend territories during breeding, their social interactions shift to communal roosting and foraging during the non-breeding periods.
Conservation Status
The long-tailed widowbird is listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Its populations are considered common and stable across its range.
Despite widespread intensive farming, the species has maintained healthy numbers. While generally stable, the long-tailed widowbird still faces localized threats. Habitat loss and degradation due to human activities, such as agricultural expansion and urban development, could impact specific populations. However, no widespread conservation efforts beyond general habitat preservation are currently highlighted as necessary for the species.