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One of the most spectacular display flights is that of the breeding male Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne.
Because of its size and voluminous tail, you can easily see it at a distance as it patrols its territory in low flight with exagerated wing actions.

My attempt to catch a flight photo of these guys.


[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2120496818_6f97afff89.jpg]

Here is two more please. Also taken at Marievale.
This bird seems big when it comes flying nearer. It seems to me that the primary wings are longer than the tail. I've paged through my books again and again, but have no idea.

Yolande, are these last 2 pictures of the same bird?

I would go with non breeding Long-tailed Widowbird.

Hi everybody!! I have a friend living in Nossob in Kgalagadi... She needs identification on this birdie... She photographed it in her garden.... (How lucky can you be???) I had a quick look and think it should be a juvenile Whydah, any other ideas???

Photo1:


Thanks for the help!!!

The Tail thickness seems right for Male Pin-tailed Whydah, but the bill has to be red, and the facial markings are wrong (no moustach marking)

The next possibility is a male Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah, the facial markings and the pattern on the shoulders are right (and yes, I know they haven't been recorded in Nossob according to the fieldguides). There also has to be a humped feather by now. :huh: Still, I would say it's a LTPW.

I was just wondering whether it could be a Shaft-tailed Whydah.
If the bird is a Long-tailed Paradise Whydah then it is seriously lost because Nossob is well out of it's range.

Caracal, I considered STW but they have 3 very thin shafts, and red bill?
Maybe they had very good rains? We had Pink-billed Lark once in the Kgalagadi.

Hi Lizet and Caracal!

At first I thought it could be shaft-tailed whydah... but went to check on the colour of the juvenile's bill... but another one that did not read the book!!!

Thanks for the trouble. Please read the thread I added about the white eye in Nossob.... Funny things seen this year!!!

I wonder if the rainfall or winds causes this.... :huh:

Oh well I still am ....and always will be confused with these little birds
I will be in Nossob from 28th - 31st Dec...I shall look out for these "lost" birds.

Hi guys ,

Very interesting photo Mads!

I know it is way out of range , but I'll have to back Lizet on the long-tailed paradise whydah! The plumage has much to warm brownish colouring in places (on the neck for instance) to be pin-tailed. Shaft-tailed whydah has a red bill , and this one seems to have a black one. A quick search gave this photo: http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/pho ... _0001.jpeg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" - looks right , don't you think? Any chance that you could upload this photo in a better quality , Mads?

Cheers
Jon

Thanks Caracal and Jol!!

That is why I love the forum!! You can learn something every day!!

Caracal I have asked my friend to join us on the forum!! So hopefully.... Maybe you can meet with her while in Nossob??

Have a wonderful day!

Hi,

Can anyone help with an ID for this bird?
I admit it is a bit of a long shot as the image quality isn't great (it was raining at the time). Seen hopping around, bunting-like, at the side of the road at the junction of the H13-1 Punda Road and the main H1-8 on 5th January.



Thanks,
nightjar

Hi Nighjar,

Looks like a female or juv male Pin-tailed Whydah - Stripes to the head, slight spotting reaching onto the breast and the buffy-yellow markings at the back of the stripes on the head. Bluish grey legs also a pointer. Bill should look paler than in your pic, but could be due to light conditions?

Barcud