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Shaft-tailed Whydah

Vidua regia · Species of bird
Order
Passeriformes
Codes
shtwhy1, STWH

About the Shaft-tailed Whydah

The shaft-tailed whydah or queen whydah is a small, sparrow-like bird in the genus Vidua. During the breeding season the male has black crown and upper body plumage, golden breast and four elongated black tail shaft feathers with expanded tips. After the breeding season is over, the male sheds its long tail and grows olive brown female-like plumage.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyWhydahs and Indigobirds (Viduidae)
SpeciesVidua regia
Species Codesshtwhy1, STWH

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Shaft-tailed Whydah belong to?

The Shaft-tailed Whydah (Vidua regia) belongs to the Whydahs and Indigobirds family (Viduidae), in the order Passeriformes.

How can I identify the Shaft-tailed Whydah?

The shaft-tailed whydah or queen whydah is a small, sparrow-like bird in the genus Vidua. During the breeding season the male has black crown and upper body plumage, golden breast and four elongated black tail shaft feathers with expanded tips. After the breeding season is over, the male sheds its l...

Where can I report a Shaft-tailed Whydah sighting?

You can log sightings of Shaft-tailed Whydah on eBird (ebird.org) using species code shtwhy1, or on iNaturalist.