widowbirds/whydahs

[chris]

Hi All,

as some are alread aware we picked up a largeish group of mixed widow birds a few weeks back, consisting of 5 possible hens (they could moult into cocks, given the time of year i doubt it somewhat though) and 4 cocks, one is completely black including the bill, the other 3 have a silver bill, black body with white underwings, a white bar on the outer wing, and also an area of red/brow above this on the outer wing - could be red as the red plumage is dependant on carotenes in the diet - and that was lacking somewhat before matthew, my dad and myself collected.

anyone here have any ideas how we should go about breeding them? they weren't touching livefood when we first collected them however this week they've finally started to tuck in. chances are they'd not seen any for 2 years! there is some playing with the grasses going on but nothing major, and they're only in a temporary aviary at present, they'll be moved to the 15x9x8 aviary once the shed is sorted and all the crap moved back in, or out...

the photos show the 2 species and a hen, they were taken the day we got the birds though, they've since started to improve in feather and several are growing half decent tails now

[Waxbillman]

hello Chris

i think time will tell, when the birds are properly moulted out, after the TLC you are giving them.
particularly the tails feathers, as thats a good way to identify them for certain
maybe get some better shots now you have had them a while?

i have a few books with limited 'whydahs' in

on another note, a friend for mine says theres about 6 'pairs' of weavers for sale, more hens at £20 a pair, at a garden centre near me, fancy another 4 hour trip in shocking traffic? :lol:

regards

Matthew

[chris]

Hi Matthew,

i think i'll get the train LOL, that traffic was crap, was more than 4 hours too if you take into account the trip back.

i was going to wait until they have fully grown tails before taking any more photos as then there can't be any confusion, at least i hope not.

any idea what these other "weavers" are?

Chris

[Waxbillman]

well i am only going by a phone call there was one unusual whydah, black with red under throats and a red beak? and bishops of some discription, they looked in good knick apparently

Matthew

[chris]

odd whydah, would have said a red collared widowbird but a red beak??

i think i better check out the train times again, £24 return if i get the ticket in advance i think anyway

Chris

[dave85]

interesting the less common whydahs no doubt as less colourful

time wil tell

matthew what would be better to know is where they are coming from?

Dave

[Waxbillman]

it was a friend who tipped me off Dave, i have not yet, or even ever been to where they are for sale

Matthew

[chris]

just been out with the camera, you can see where the tail is growing back. bit dark in the photo but ah well

[cooltom28]

chris i think the ones i ahve are the same as yours one been the middle picture and the other one from the picture to the right

[chris]

Hi Tom,

the middle widowbird is either a jacksons or a red collared without a red collar. as for the other species the photos dont do them justice at all and dont show up the wing markings i reffered to

Chris

[chris]

looks like we have a colony of fan tailed widowbirds, though they're still tatty hopefully they'll look better after going into eclipse and back. the hens have improved loads though, one had quite a belly on it at first which she's since worked off.

i think these were also responsible for one of the nests in the aviary that i'd first put down to the weavers, but given the description david has given of the nests (half open) it looks to be almost certainly one of the widows that did it.

sadly we lost the jacksons, or whatever it was. must have been old, though it had improved loads

fingers crossed for later this year - hopefully we'll actually have a summer this year rather than two winters and autumns :shock:

Chris

[laurab]

Sounds good Chris - good luck with them! :wink:

[Waxbillman]

shame you lost him, like you said he was probabily old.

best of luck with the others though

Matthew