Southern Red Bishop.. Yellow Crowned Bishop.

Southern Red Bishop or Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) and the Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer)

The “Red” is common in wetlands and grassland in Africa south of the Equator. That found North of the Equator is known as the Northern Red Bishop… how flipping clever is that… why do they come up with these names, if you stand on the Equator and the bird hops across, do you change it’s name.??

The “Yellow” is native to Africa south of the Sahara. Now come on .. what’s the difference here?? When I was young and collected birds eggs as a hobby, we knew these birds as the red and yellow bishop bird, when did they change.?

The males of the species become more bright in colour during mating season, where the both tend to build a few nests and attempt to attract females… the “Red” breed in colonies but the “Yellow” is a little more shy and tends to breed alone.. must be self conscious…

Any way here are a few photos of both…

Radermeyer and rietspruit 044

Radermeyer and rietspruit 042

Radermeyer and rietspruit 039

Radermeyer and rietspruit 034

Radermeyer and rietspruit 032

Radermeyer and rietspruit 037

So I go………. and find…??? Yes the Yellow…

rietvlei 001

rietvlei 003

So I take the hint and go home… what does the wife say? “Why you home so early?” Should I tell her.?? Should I say that two little birds 4 inches long and weighing next to nothing have told me to take a hike.?? Not this Bulldog….