Red-collared widowbird

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The red-collared widowbird (Euplectes ardens) is a small passerine bird in the weaver family. It lives in grasslands and open areas across western and southern Africa and is not considered threatened.

Appearance and calls
- Males in breeding plumage have a very long tail and a bright red collar on the chest. Non-breeding males are brown.
- Females and young birds are brown with shorter tails.
- Size: males about 25 cm long and 20–26 g; females about 13 cm long and 16–22 g.
- The red color comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet; tail length is a key signal to females and to competing males.

Habitat and behavior
- Found in open grasslands, farmland, forest clearings, and slopes with few trees.
- They often roost in large groups (50–100 birds) and mix with other species.
- Males are polygynous (m defend territories to attract mates); females build nests, incubate, and raise the young.

Reproduction
- Females build oval nests and lay 2–4 eggs that are grey-blue with brown spots.
- Only the female incubates (12–15 days); the nestlings fledge after about 14–17 days.
- Nests are sometimes parasitized by the Diederik cuckoo.

Diet
- They eat seeds from grasses (including sorghum), plus nectar, small berries, and insects such as ants, caterpillars, and termites.

Mating and evolution
- Tail length strongly affects mating success; the red collar signals dominance in territory contests.
- Producing the red coloration is costly, and both tail length and color act as multiple signals to different receivers (mates and rivals).

Taxonomy and range
- This species is in the Euplectes genus. It was once considered the same species as the red-cowled widowbird but is now treated as separate.
- It ranges across eastern and southern Africa and is commonly found in suitable open habitats.

Conservation status
- The red-collared widowbird has a very wide range and is not currently at risk. Notable populations are found in places like Kruger National Park (about 2,000 individuals) and Mozambique (around 11,000 individuals).