Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-tailed Paradise Whydah
Vidua paradisaea
Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) is a member of the Viduidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 20.4 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 Viduidae Indigobirds, Whydahs
- Genus Vidua
- Species paradisaea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Viduidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) is a member of the Viduidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia to n South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah?
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is a small bird that weighs around 20.4 g.
Where does the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah live?
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is found across Africa with a range covering AF se Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia to n South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah belong to?
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) belongs to the Viduidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah eat?
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah migrate?
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah 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 Paradise Whydah make?
1 real field recording of the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah's range?
The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah has a mapped global range of about 4.7 million 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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