Euplectes progne
The Longtailed Widowbird is a grassland species, even occurring up to 2,750m above sea level in the Drakensberg mountains. They feed primarily on seeds, and occasionally insects. Long-tailed Widowbirds live in flocks consisting of 1 or 2 males and several females. At night they roost in reedbeds or long grass.
The male Long-tailed Widowbird only carries the exceptionally long tail (up to 50cm) in the breeding season, displaying it prominently by flying slowly over his patch of grassland. In winter the males have the same drab colouration of the females. The breeding season stretches from October to April in South Africa, and during this time males may mate with up to 5 females. Either sex weave the dome-shaped nests in tall, dense grass in wetlands or along rivers, in which 1-4 eggs are incubated by the female only for two weeks. The chicks leave the nest at just over two weeks old, but are not very strong flyers yet and thus remain dependent on their mother for another two weeks or so. Adults weigh between 25 and 46 grams.
The Long-tailed Widowbird is patchily distributed in pockets of East and Central Africa, with the largest part of the population concentrated in parts of Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa, particularly the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State, North West, Gauteng and the Highveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The IUCN lists it as least concern, describing its populations as common and stable, despite much of its range being intensively farmed.
DeWetsWild 
Stunning !!
Aren’t they!?
The male almost looks like a Red winged Black Bird except with a long tail. Dries, what purpose does the long tail serve?? Mating rituals??
Absolutely correct, Teresa – all this finery has only one purpose, and that is to impress the female of the species!
The long tail of the male is very attractive but I would imagine it would get in the way of an attempted fast escape from a predator.
I believe you are spot-on, Kim. Seeing how laborious their flight is, they have to be easy prey for airborne predators.
That long tail is definitely distinctive, however it’s an unfortunate name for the poor male 🙂
You can’t have both the looks and the name, it seems! 😀
What a beautiful bird. You’d think it would be hard to fly with that long tail behind him.
And it is, Maralee, but if the females are adequately impressed the rewards are great!
Amazing, would like to see this one next time!
Be sure to visit in the summer, and spend some time at a grassland destination like Golden Gate, Michael – you won’t miss them.
You are coming up with some fabulous bird studies, Dries. Bravo!
Thank you very much for the kind comment, Tish!
Nou mis ek die Hoëveld met sy flappe wat aan die grashalms hang en dan regtig flap-flap vlieg met hul lang sterte.
Die somer op die Hoeveld sal darem nie dieselfde wees sonder hulle nie!
Hul het toentertyd al verminder omdat daar so baie wonings opgerig is op plase wat in kleiner stukkies grond verdeel is
Ja, die kamtige “vooruitgang” laat niks ongestoord nie…
Wow !!!!! Unbelievable ! So beautiful !
Most striking, isn’t it Ellada Valerie?
Another lovely bird!
Thank you, Deb!
Beautiful thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Kelly!
Wow! The name really suits that beautiful bird.😊 Have it not difficult to fly with such a long tail?
It really struggles flying with that long tail and wingfeathers, John, but it certainly draws the females’ attention!
What an unusual looking bird.
All to impress the ladies!
🙂