White-winged Widowbird

Afrikaans name: Witvlerkflap

Photo © Steven Herbert

Euplectes albonotatus

The White-winged Widowbird is found in Africa south of the Sahara. It is normally found in wetlands, grasslands, savannah and sometimes in farmlands.

They feed mainly on seeds, insects (mainly termite alates) and nectar.

During the summer the males change into their beautiful black, white and yellow plumage. Females, and non-breeding males, are brown and rather nondescript in appearance.

Male White-winged Widowbirds typically breed with 3 to 4 females during the summer. The male builds an oval nest in thick grass or low down in a shrub or tree. The female lays between 2 and 4 eggs and is responsible to incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 310

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 28

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 28

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 114

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 277

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 216

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 113

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 261

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 78

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 212

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 310

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 123

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 416

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 414

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 438

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 567

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 579

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 738

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 737

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 390

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 424

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 55

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 349

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds