Bishops and widowbirds are types of weavers, as mentioned in my most recent post. The males are brightly-colored birds; some male widowbirds have long tail feathers. Females are light brown and look very similar to each other, as was the case with the other weavers.
All birds molt, which means their bodies replace damaged feathers with new ones. Some birds molt more than once a year. Bishops and widowbirds molt twice a year, which means after their breeding season is complete, they shed their brighter feathers and take on dull colors (which happens over time, not all at once). .
The bright colors in the first place are used to attract mates. Once breeding is complete, they are advertising themselves to predators only. The more dull, the less likely you are to be spotted. Adaptations like these help birds to survive in a world full of predators like snakes, birds of prey, and even people
Enjoy the pictures!
The bright colors in the first place are used to attract mates. Once breeding is complete, they are advertising themselves to predators only. The more dull, the less likely you are to be spotted. Adaptations like these help birds to survive in a world full of predators like snakes, birds of prey, and even people
Enjoy the pictures!
White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) (male), east of Arusha, Tanzania. |
Male white-winged widowbird in flight. East of Arusha, Tanzania |
Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) (male) at Mabamba Swamp, Uganda |
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