Photo: Lucky Atabo Okpanachi / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Jos Plateau Indigobird
Vidua maryae
Jos Plateau Indigobird (Vidua maryae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Jos Plateau Indigobird (Vidua maryae) is a member of the Viduidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12.8 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 maryae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Viduidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Jos Plateau Indigobird (Vidua maryae) belongs to the Viduidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c Nigeria.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.8 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 3.8 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 12,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Jos Plateau Indigobird?
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is a very small bird that weighs around 12.8 g.
Where does the Jos Plateau Indigobird live?
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is found across Africa with a range covering AF c Nigeria, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Jos Plateau Indigobird belong to?
The Jos Plateau Indigobird (Vidua maryae) belongs to the Viduidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Jos Plateau Indigobird eat?
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Jos Plateau Indigobird migrate?
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Jos Plateau Indigobird 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 Jos Plateau Indigobird make?
1 real field recording of the Jos Plateau Indigobird — 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 Jos Plateau Indigobird's range?
The Jos Plateau Indigobird has a mapped global range of about 12,000 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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