Parasitic Viduine weaver and whydah
Parasitic viduine weavers and whydahs belong to the family Viduidae, characterized by their unique breeding strategy of nesting parasitism. These birds, primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa, exhibit predominantly black or steel-blue plumage, with some species showcasing white or yellow patches. Females are often more subdued in appearance, resembling sparrows. Both males and females typically range from 4 to 16 inches (11 to 41 centimeters) in length.
The reproductive behavior of these birds is particularly intriguing; female Viduidae do not raise their own young but instead lay their eggs in the nests of other species, particularly waxbills. The young Viduidae hatch and are cared for by the host parents, who are tricked into feeding them due to the imitation of specific color markings and vocalizations. This fascinating adaptation highlights the complex interactions within ecosystems and raises questions about the evolutionary advantages of such parasitic strategies. Overall, the Viduidae family showcases a remarkable instance of avian behavior that emphasizes survival and adaptation in diverse habitats.
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Subject Terms
Parasitic viduine weaver and whydah
These birds form the family Viduidae. They are called parasitic because they take advantage of other birds by tricking them into hatching and raising their young.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Viduidae
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
Parasitic Viduidae weavers and parasitic whydahs have mainly black or steel-blue plumage (feathering), but some have patches of white or yellow plumage. Many females have sparrow-like plumage. Birds of both generabetween 4 and 16 inches (11 to 41 centimeters) long.
Species in the genus Vidua range across the savanna and open plains of sub-Saharan Africa. They also appear in villages and people's gardens. Viduidae weavers and whydahs forage for insects and seeds. Predators are unknown.
The Viduidae weaver and whydah are parasitic in their nesting habits. Females of each species lay white eggs which are 1/2 inch (1 1/2 centimeters) wide and long. The females do not lay eggs in their nests, incubate them, and raise their young. Instead, they lay their eggs in other bird's nests, often waxbill nests. The waxbills are called the host birds and incubate and raise the chicks of whydahs and Viduidae weavers. The young of each host species have distinct colors and markings inside their mouths. When the young waxbills open their mouths in hunger, the waxbill parents see these colors and markings and begin feeding their young. Viduine weavers and whydahs are not waxbills but can imitate, or copy, these markings and colors. The waxbill parents feed them and their own young.
Another feature of the parasitic birds is that male Viduidae weavers and whydahs learn to imitate the chirp and soft warble of the host birds. It is unclear exactly why they do this.
Species include:
Barka or baka indigobird Vidua larvaticola
Broad-tailed paradise whydah Vidua obtusa
Cameroon indigobird Vidua camerunensis
Dusky indiogobird, variable indigobird, or black widowfinch Vidua funerea
Exclamatory paradise or Uelle paradise whydah Vidua interjecta
Jambandu or goldbreast indigobird Vidua raricola
Jos Plateau indigobird Vidua maryae
Long-tailed paradise or eastern paradise whydah Vidua paradisaea
Parasitic weaver or cuckoo-finch Anomalospiza imberbis
Pin-tailed whydah Vidua macroura
Purple or dusky indigobird Vidua purpurascens
Quailfinch indigobird Vidua nigeriae
Sahel paradise, yellow-naped, or northern paradise whydah Vidua orientalis
Steel-blue whydah Vidua hypocherina
Straw-tailed whydah Vidua fischeri
Shaft-tailed whydah Vidua regia
Togo paradise whydah Vidua togoensis
Village indigobird Vidua chalybeata
Wilson's or pale-winged indigobird Vidua wilsoni
Zambezi, twinspot, or green indigobird Vidua codringtoni
Bibliography
"Family Viduidae." Carolina Birds, carolinabirds.org/HTML/Viduidae.htm. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Winkler, D. W., et al. "Indigobirds (Viduidae)." Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2020, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/viduid1/cur/introduction. Accessed 1 May 2024.