About Vidua regia (Linnaeus, 1766)
The shaft-tailed whydah, also called the queen whydah, has the scientific name Vidua regia (Linnaeus, 1766). It is a small, sparrow-like bird that belongs to the genus Vidua. In the breeding season, breeding males have a black crown and black upper body plumage, a golden breast, and four elongated black tail shaft feathers with expanded tips. Once the breeding season ends, males shed their long tail and grow olive brown plumage that matches the appearance of females. This species lives in open habitats and grasslands across Southern Africa, ranging from southern Angola to southern Mozambique. The shaft-tailed whydah is a brood parasite, and it relies on the violet-eared waxbill as its host. It feeds mainly on seeds. Since the species is widespread and common across its large habitat range, it is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
