Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura)
The Pin-tailed Whydah is 12–13 cm in length, although the breeding male’s tail adds another 20 cm to this.
The male Pin-tailed Whydah is territorial, and one male often has several females in his small group. He has an elaborate courtship flight display, which includes hovering over the female to display his tail.
This little fellow was very ambitious, and I watched him hover over many different specie of bird at the feeders. He was trying his best to interest birds three times his size… Men are all the same…
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
Love this bird including his beautiful long tail. Interesting that he sheds his tail and colours when not breeding. So interesting. I too would love to see it fly when he is not in breeding. Gorgeous shots!
We have a few specie here that go through this dramatic change in the breeding time… I have done a few posts on the other can’t remember what it is called… something like dressing for success… lol
Cute little red beak.
A lovely little bird…
What a gorgeous bird. I’d love to see it in flight some time with that tail of his.
I have a photo or two but not of the best… unfortunately..
Wow, he’s a beauty, great photos!
Brenda
Thank you very much…
What amazing tail feathers – you’d think he would be too weighed down by them to fly.
He fly s so well until the wind blows then he seems to struggle a little…
Tail, tail, tail; he must be tired of hearing all the comments about that old tail. So I will say how beautiful the colors are on his beak.It becomes the focal point when I look at him. And the feathers on his wing are subtle but interesting. What does it take to get you interested enough to want to photograph a creature?
I will take a photo of any animal or bird just for the hope that one gets that special shot… I have sat and studied the movements, communication and nuances of so many animals and birds and my motivation is to try and capture what I see on camera… a bird like this has so much going for it at breeding time, I must look to see if I have a photo of it when not breeding, so drab and actually so different.. that is what gets me taking photos… natures wonders…
E’ bellissimo e lo sono anche le tue foto!!
Ciao, Pat
Thanks Pat..
What a beaut!
Thanks Anneli
Amazing … how can it fly with a tail like that … a little and interesting beautiful bird. As always great gallery.
Thanks Viveka…
A lovely shot of lovely bird!! Thanks fir another great post, Bulldog! 🙂
My pleasure Skye…
Fascinating look of that bird. I would love to see it in flight. 🙂
It is quite the nimble flyer when the wind is not blowing…
I would be showing off my tail to all who pass by if mine was as lovely as his! 🙂
Thank you… he only has it at breeding time… talk about dressing for success…
😀
What a lovely little bird! I wonder whether it’s tail ever causes it to overbalance? (like the Lurie) 🙂
No it is actually very stable when sitting, gets quite funny when the wind is blowing and he is trying to hover over a potential mate…
Interesting about shedding the tail after breeding…an unusual, yet beautiful feature added just for courtship.
Yes it is known as dressing for success…
He is beautiful and so are your takes 🙂
Thank you Paula…
when I read this I’d just taken a sip of coffee: He was trying his best to interest birds three times his size… Men are all the same… Now I’m cleaning my keyboard – thanks!
Diana
Sorry about that… next time I’ll put a warning on the post… “don’t drink and read…”… lol
haha good title even!
Forgive me, but I can’t resist telling you what I know my husband’s reaction would be to that bird – Now that’s a piece of tail!! LOL
I think I would get on well with your Hubby…
Oh I know you would 🙂
WOW! What a long tail… should be problem for him to fly with this long tail…. Amazing photographs… Thank you dear Rob, love, nia
Thanks Nia… he gets around quite well when the wind is not blowing…
Never seen this bird before. No doubt there’s a reason behind the long tail. Amazing how wildlife evolves, and great to see.
The long tail is only grown for breeding time…
What a beauty 🙂 Pawkisses for a Happy Day 🙂
Thank you..
What a gorgeous little bird Rob! Great shots my friend and thanks for sharing. Love it! 😀
Thanks Sonel…
Lovely pictures and lovely bird…quite a tail it has!!! (Suzanne)
Thanks Suzanne
that is one long tail – cute little bird with such a long tail – amazing. Awesome photos Rob. Like how in the last one he is looking right at you.
Thank you… just been to your blog and love the ride and pidout, but where is your comments section… I had a real good comment to place and there is nothing there…
I’m guessing that Mrs Whydah is half his size, brown speckled and uninteresting. Pfft. Not fair. On the other hand, she probably has less problems getting into bird feeders that he does 😀
You are so right… but when he is not breeding he reverts to look almost the same as his wives… greedy little guy…
Wow! What a sweet little thing he is. That tail is so fascinating and beautiful. The tail feathers are longer than the little bird. I would just love to see it fly. He looks aeronautically challenged. 🙂
He is a little challenged at breeding time.. but when not breeding sheds the tail and colours.. looks almost like the female then…