Vidua funerea
The Dusky Indigobird inhabits forest edges and clearings, woodlands, savannas and thickets in grassland in areas with higher rainfall. It feeds mainly on grass seeds supplemented with termites and other small insects. Male Dusky Indigobirds are territorial and will mate with as many females as possible. Being a brood parasite the female Dusky Indigobird will enter the nest of a pair of African Firefinches, destroy any eggs she finds in the nest and then lay a single egg of her own for the host family to incubate and rear.
In South Africa, Dusky Indigobirds are found in all provinces with the exception of the Northern and Western Cape. Their distribution further extends patchily over other African countries south of the equator and while the species is not commonly seen and easily overlooked it is considered to be of least concern.
DeWetsWild 