Photo: terathopius / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah
Vidua obtusa
Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua obtusa) — 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 Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua obtusa) is a member of the Viduidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 20.7 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 obtusa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.7 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 Broad-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 Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua obtusa) is a species of bird in the Viduidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e DR Congo to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.2 cm and a tail of around 6.1 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 3.2 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah?
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is a small bird that weighs around 20.7 g.
Where does the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah live?
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is found across Africa with a range covering AF e DR Congo to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah belong to?
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua obtusa) belongs to the Viduidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah eat?
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah migrate?
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Broad-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.
How large is the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah's range?
The Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah has a mapped global range of about 3.2 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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