Alternative name: Red Bishop
- Euplectes orix
Identification
Non-breeding plumage (drinking bird on right with Chestnut Sparrow)
Photo © by volker sthamer
Burunge, Tanzania, September 2017
Photo © by volker sthamer
Burunge, Tanzania, September 2017
13-15 cm (5-6 in)
Breeding Male
- Orange to scarlet head, back and undertail coverts
- Black facial mask
- Black belly
Distribution
Found in East and South Africa in southern and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, southern Kenya, Tanzania, western and southern Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho.
Introduced populations exist, e.g., in Andalucia (Spain).
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Several subspecies have been described (eg sundevalli or nigrifrons), however this species varies clinally in size.
Habitat
Open country, tall grassland, near water.
Behaviour
Breeding
Its nest is spherical and woven, and is situated in tall grass. It lays 2 - 4 eggs.
Diet
It feeds on seed, grain and some insects.
Vocalisation
Call: a thin tsip
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Southern Red Bishop. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Southern_Red_Bishop
