Southern Red Bishop

Overview

The southern red bishop (Euplectes orix) is a small passerine bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae. It is common in wetlands and grassland across Africa south of the Equator.

Identification

• Length of 10–11 cm with a thick conical bill.
• Breeding males have bright red and black plumage, with a black forehead, face, and throat, and red on the rest of the head and upper breast.
• Non-breeding males and females are streaky brown, paler below, with females being smaller than males.
• Vocalisations include twittering calls, a nasal contact call, and a buzzing song by the male.

Habitat

Found from South Africa north to Angola and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya. It is largely absent from the Namib Desert and Kalahari. During the breeding season, it inhabits areas near water among grass, reeds, sedges, or crops, while venturing into drier grassland and savanna outside the breeding season.

Diet

Feeds on seeds and some insects. It is a gregarious bird that forages in flocks, often roosting in mixed groups with other weaver family members.

Did you know?

At the start of the breeding season, males build several nests to attract females and perform display flights with their feathers fluffed up. They are polygynous, mating with several females.