Alternative name: Queen Whydah
- Vidua regia
Identification
The Shaft-tailed Whydah is a small, sparrow-like bird. During the breeding season the male has black crown and upper body plumage, golden breast and four elongated black tail shaft feathers with expanded tips. After breeding season is over, the male sheds its long tail and grows olive brown plumage similar to the female.
Distribution
Southern Africa: Southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, northern South Africa and southern Mozambique.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Open habitats and grasslands.
Behaviour
It is a brood parasite of the Common Grenadier. The diet consists mainly of seeds.
