Euplectes axillaris

With a patchy distribution over sub-Saharan Africa, the Fan-tailed Widowbird inhabits wetter areas with tall grasses, reeds and papyrus (and also sugarcane fields). In South Africa they’re found mainly in Kwazulu-Natal, the Mpumalanga Highveld, Gauteng and the Eastern reaches of the Free State and Eastern Cape. They feed mainly on grass seeds and occasionally on termites and other insects. They’re often found in mixed company of other seed-eating birds. The IUCN lists the Fan-tailed Widowbird as being of least concern.

Male Fan-tailed Widowbirds are territorial in the breeding season, which spans spring and summer, weaving up to eight ball-shaped grass nests, with a side-entrance, in a tuft of grass or other dense vegetation, usually in marshy areas. They then attempt to attract and mate with as many females as possible, but have no further parental role. The female incubates the clutch of 2 or 3 eggs for 2 weeks. The chicks stay in the nest for less than 3 weeks, and accompany their mom for about another 2 weeks after fledging before becoming independent. Adults are about 15cm in length and 26g in weight, with males slightly larger than females.