Southern Red Bishop Bird.

Southern Red Bishop or Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

The Southern Red Bishop or Red Bishop is a small passerine bird belonging to the bishop and widowbird in the weaver family. It is common in wetlands and grassland in Africa south of the Equator.

This is another bird that goes through a change before breeding… a sort of trooping of the colours you might call it… the male is very similar to the female in colouring when not breeding… but changes into this magnificent red or orange red colour to breed…

It is 10–11 centimetres (4 inches) long and has a thick conical bill. Breeding males are brightly-coloured with red (occasionally orange) and black plumage. The forehead, face and throat are black and the rest of the head is red. The upper parts are red apart from the brown wings and tail. The upper breast and under tail-coverts are red while the lower breast and belly are black. The non-breeding male and female have streaky brown plumage, paler below. Females are smaller than the males. Here’s firstly, a few photos of the males going through the “change of life”.. having hot flushes by the looks of it….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then for the change…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This last photo is probably a life size shot…. showing his true size…. Below is a female…..