Fan-tailed widowbird, Euplectes axillaris, also known as the Fan-tailed Whydah or the Red-shouldered Widow(bird)/Whydah, photographed at Ngorongoro crater, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa.
Image: Dan Logen, 23 January 2010 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D2X, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender, f/6.3, 1/750 sec ISO 250
Question: This lovely African mystery bird is the member of the same family as another bird that is fairly common throughout much of the world. Can you identify this bird and its family member -- one that some of you see every day?
Response: This is an adult male fan-tailed widowbird, Euplectes axillaris, a member of the avian family Ploceidae, the weaver birds. One of its cousins is the red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea, the most abundant bird in the world.
You are invited to review all of the daily mystery birds by going to their dedicated graphic index page.
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