Jackson's Widowbird

The Jackson's Widowbird is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Jackson's Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and arable land. It is threatened by habitat loss. References - * BirdLife International 2004. Euplectes jacksoni. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2007. More

Yes, It's a male Jackson's Widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni, in breeding plumage. The thick decurved tail, brown shoulders and brown edgings give the game away. It also clears a "dance floor" in the grassland habitat and bounces about like a mad thing to attract a female, similar to Birds of Paradise. (as seen on the BBC). Posted by: Adrian | February 8, 2010 6:42 PM Post a Comment (Email is required for authentication purposes only. More

For most of the year Jackson's Widowbird is just another small, brown, streaked, little bird. Its most distinctive feature is its pink bill and feet. Then comes the breeding season when your most likely view of this bird is what seems to be bundle of black feathers, shooting straight out of the long grass several feet in the air and then falling back again. More

Francolin, Jackson's Widowbird, and African Finfoot at the Hippo Pools. And Transfer to airport for Flight Home. More

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Ploceidae
Genus : Euplectes
Species : jacksoni
Authority : (Sharpe, 1891)