breeding male; long sweeping tail; buffy underparts (Zoo; 2008-10-21)
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Long-tailed Paradise Whydah
Vidua paradisaea
Native Range: Africa
Notes:
this is one of several closely related species in the paradise whydah complex; all are brood parasites on other small birds, laying their eggs in other species' nests and leaving the rearing of their young to the foster parents; shows great sexual dimmorphism, with only the male displaying the long tail during the breeding season; at other times of year the male more closely resembles the much drabber brown-streaked female.
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