Montane widowbird

Montane widowbird
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Euplectes
Species: E. psammacromius
Binomial name
Euplectes psammacromius
(Reichenow, 1900)
Synonyms

Pentethria psammocromia lapsus

The montane widowbird (Euplectes psammacromius), also known as the mountain marsh widowbird is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is an endemic resident of the eastern afro-mountain grassland (northeast Zambia, north Malawi and highlands of southwest Tanzania). Like all widowbirds the difference between male and female appearance is prominent during breeding season. In breeding season males molt into a black breeding plumage including long tail feathers and yellow shoulder patches (these patches have a discrete appearance during the non-breeding period). During this period males defend territories in early morning after sunrise and in the evening before sunset. Outside breeding season male and female appearance is similar, they are both speckled brown and black.

References