Longtailed Widow

These birds have very small bodies but in summer, the males grow a long tail of 40-50cm in order to impress the ladies.

They are found in large flocks where they feed on seeds and insects on the ground.

 Their area is inland (north) upwards from Port Elizabeth and covers most of the provinces where there are grasslands.


Their flight is low and laboured over the ground as the tail brings them down.

 At night they roost in reedbeds where they also build their nests during breeding season.


The males will have up to 6 females which he mates with at any one time and the female lays 2-4 eggs at a time which are a dull greenish white with brown and grey blotches.