Fan-tailed Widow

Afrikaans name: Kortstertflap

Male Fan-tailed Widowbird

Photo © Steven Herbert

Euplectes axillaris

The male Fan-tailed Widow is easily distinguished during summer with its black plumage, red shoulder patches and relatively short tail. Outside of the breeding season it is brown with paler red patches on is wings. Females are nondescript brown.

Males are territorial during the breeding season and may nest with four females. The nests are made in long grass. Each female lays 2 or 3 eggs and she incubates them without assistance from the male.

The main food of the Fan-tailed Widow is grass seeds. They also eat termites and some caterpillars.

Photo © Steven Herbert

These widowbirds are found in the eastern regions of South Africa where they occupy marshy areas and grasslands.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	816	Urobrachya axillaris axillaris
2nd	816	Coliuspasser axillaris
3rd	816	Coliuspasser axillaris
4th	816	Euplectes axillaris
5th	828	Euplectes axillaris
6th	828	Euplectes axillaris
7th	858	Euplectes axillaris

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	816	Red-shouldered Widow Bird
2nd	816	Red-shouldered Widow-Bird
3rd	816	Red-shouldered Widow
4th	816	Red-shouldered Widow
5th	828	Redshouldered Widow
6th	828	Redshouldered Widow
7th	858	Fan-tailed Widowbird

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	816	Kortstert-flap
2nd	816	Kortstert-flap
3rd	816	Kortstert-flap
4th	816	Kortstert-flap
5th	828	Kortstertflap
6th	828	Kortstertflap
7th	858	Kortstertflap

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 349

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 55

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 123

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 424

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 390

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 737

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 736

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 580

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 414

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 324

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 439

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 569

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 310

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 124

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 416

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 78

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 212

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 260

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 278

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 216

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 112

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 117

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 28

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 311

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 28

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List of South African Birds