whydah
Long-tailed African finch
A whydah is an African bird, the male of which has extremely long tail feathers during breeding season—sometimes three times his body length.
The name comes from the town of Ouidah in Benin.
Whydahs are brood parasites, laying eggs in the nests of other birds.
Also spelled whidah or widow bird.
Small seed-eating songbird
- weaverThread-interlacing craftsperson
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
- brood parasiteSpecies using others' nests
- songbirdMelodious perching avian
passerine · pin-tailed · species · flock · perch · foraging · tropical · fauna
West African republic
- NigeriaWest African federal republic
- EthiopiaHorn of Africa nation
- TanzaniaDodoma-capital nation
- KenyaEast African country, capital Nairobi
Uganda · South Africa · savanna · grassland · sub-Saharan · Ghana · Cameroon · Zambia
Posterior flight plumes
- breeding plumageOrnate feathers for courtship
- streamerNarrow decorative ribbon
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
non-breeding · ornamental · flight feathers · coloration · coverts · contour feathers · barbs · shaft
Behavior to attract partners
- dancingRhythmic bodily motion
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- attractionPull toward something
territorial · bobbing · undulating · ritual · exhibition · competitive · breeding season
Climate's periodic transformation
- monomorphicHaving one form
- tail lengthRear appendage measurement
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- polymorphismMany forms, one interface
finch
Small seed-eating songbird
- weaverThread-interlacing craftsperson
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
- brood parasiteSpecies using others' nests
songbird · passerine · pin-tailed · species · flock · perch · foraging · tropical · fauna · wildlife
Senegal
West African republic
Kenya · Uganda · South Africa · savanna · grassland · sub-Saharan · Ghana · Cameroon · Zambia · Zimbabwe
tail feathers
Posterior flight plumes
- breeding plumageOrnate feathers for courtship
- streamerNarrow decorative ribbon
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
molting · non-breeding · ornamental · flight feathers · coloration · coverts · contour feathers · barbs · shaft · vane
mating display
Behavior to attract partners
- dancingRhythmic bodily motion
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
attraction · territorial · bobbing · undulating · ritual · exhibition · competitive · breeding season
seasonal change
Climate's periodic transformation
- monomorphicHaving one form
- tail lengthRear appendage measurement
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage