Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens

Identification. The adult male Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens in breeding plumage (above) is black, often with a red collar or head, and a long tail. Females (below) and non-breeding males are dull coloured, with a yellowish eye-stripe and yellowish or buffy breast sharply demarcated from the white belly.

Distribution. The Red-collared Widowbird is a widespread widowbird in Africa, being found from Senegal across to Ethiopia and south to eastern South Africa in the localities shown on the map above (based on Birds of Africa). Many subspecies have been recorded. Currently accepted subspecies are:
nominate E.a. ardens, found in West, central and southern Africa (red on map); the male usually has a red collar on the breast (above) but may be black;
E.a. laticauda, found in Ethiopia, Eritrea and SE Sudan (blue on map); the male has a red collar, crown and nape;
E.a. suahelicus, found in the highlands of Kenya and N Tanzania (green on map); the male has a red collar, and varying amount of red on the head (above).

The highland laticauda and suahelicus are isolated from the Iowland birds and from each other, and may be separate species. Molecular studies indicate that the Red-collared Widowbird is a bishop with a long tail, rather than a widow.

Habitat. It occurs in a variety of habitats including grassland, rank vegetation, cultivated areas, and slopes with sparse trees.

Food. The Red-collared Widowbird feeds on seeds, insects including termites, nectar. It forages on the ground, often in flocks of 200 birds or more.

Breeding. This species is polygynous and territorial. Males with longer tails attract more females and males with larger red collars held larger territories. Males prefer hillsides, where they can glide downhill for display flights.

The nest is an oval structure with a side entrance, built by the male and lined and strengthened by the female. A male may have 3-22 nest structures placed in tall grass, on his territory.

The eggs are grey or blue-green and heavily speckled with brown, often forming ring near the thick end (see photo at phown 2411).

Breeding season
Oct-Nov in Sierra Leone, Sept-Oct in Liberia, Sept-Nov in Nigeria and Cameroon, Apr-May and Jul-Oct in Ethiopia; in DRCongo, Sept-Nov in NE and Jan-May in SE; Mar-Apr in Rwanda, Apr-Jun in Uganda, Apr-Jul and Dec-Jan in Kenya, and Jan-May in Tanzania; Jan-Apr in Zambia and Jan-May in Malawi; in Mozambique, Feb-May in W and Oct-Mar in S; Dec-Mar Zimbabwe and Oct-Mar in South Africa

Nest site
placed 1-3.5 m above ground in tall elephant grass, elsewhere often less than 1 m above ground

Nest building
female often does most of building, continues to add lining during incubation period

Colony size
territory containing 3-22 nest structures

Clutch size
2-4 eggs (mean 2.7 in South Africa)

Egg colour
greyish or blue-green, heavily speckled with brown, often forming ring near thick end

Egg size
average size of 149 eggs 18.9 x 13.6 mm (South Africa)

Incubation
incubation by female only, period 12-15 days

Chicks and nestling period
chicks fed by female only, primarily by regurgitation, nestling period 14-17 days