Mystery Bird: Jackson's Widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni

grrlscientist — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:59:02 +0000

tags: Jackson's Widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Jackson's Widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni, photographed in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Dan Logen, February 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D2X, 600 x 1.4, ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/800 sec.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Sun, 02/07/2010 - 03:59

I don't know how to be cryptic about this one without being too obvious. I think it's a moonwalking relative of yesterdays bird, bereaved perhaps.

I actually got Adrian's hints in 10 seconds. But I'll let someone else take the honours of revealing the answer. =)

In an amazing coincidence I have just been watching the courtship dance of this bird on the BBC's Natural World programme on the African Rift Valley.

I guess that that is widow bird. .

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).