Photo: Mohanr53 at English Wikipedia / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes progne
Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 35.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Euplectes
- Species progne
Quick facts
- Weight
- 35.1 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-tailed Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Long-tailed Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, sc.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 35.1 g, with a wing length of about 12 cm and a tail of around 23.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 698,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-tailed Widowbird?
The Long-tailed Widowbird is a small bird that weighs around 35.1 g.
Where does the Long-tailed Widowbird live?
The Long-tailed Widowbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, sc, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Long-tailed Widowbird belong to?
The Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Long-tailed Widowbird eat?
The Long-tailed Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Long-tailed Widowbird migrate?
The Long-tailed Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Long-tailed Widowbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Long-tailed Widowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Long-tailed Widowbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Long-tailed Widowbird's range?
The Long-tailed Widowbird has a mapped global range of about 698,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.