Explore the Heart of South Africa: Nature, Culture, Adventure
White-winged Widowbird
Afrikaans name: Witvlerkflap
Photo © Steven Herbert
Euplectes albonotatus
The White-winged Widowbird is found in Africa south of the Sahara. It is normally found in wetlands, grasslands, savannah and sometimes in farmlands.
They feed mainly on seeds, insects (mainly termite alates) and nectar.
During the summer the males change into their beautiful black, white and yellow plumage. Females, and non-breeding males, are brown and rather nondescript in appearance.
Male White-winged Widowbirds typically breed with 3 to 4 females during the summer. The male builds an oval nest in thick grass or low down in a shrub or tree. The female lays between 2 and 4 eggs and is responsible to incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.
Roberts Birds Names by Edition
| Edition | Roberts nr | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 814 | Penthetriopsis albonotatus albonotatus |
| 2nd | 814 | Coliuspasser albonotatus |
| 3rd | 814 | Coliuspasser albonotatus |
| 4th | 814 | Euplectes albonotatus |
| 5th | 829 | Euplectes albonotatus |
| 6th | 829 | Euplectes albonotatus |
| 7th | 860 | Euplectes albonotatus |
| Edition | Roberts nr | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 814 | White-winged Widow Bird |
| 2nd | 814 | White-winged Widow-Bird |
| 3rd | 814 | White-winged Widow |
| 4th | 814 | White-winged Widow |
| 5th | 829 | Whitewinged Widow |
| 6th | 829 | Whitewinged Widow |
| 7th | 860 | White-winged Widowbird |
| Edition | Roberts nr | Afrikaans name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 814 | Witvlerk-kaffervink |
| 2nd | 814 | Witvlerk-kaffervink |
| 3rd | 814 | Witvlerk-kaffervink |
| 4th | 814 | Witvlerk-kaffervink |
| 5th | 829 | Witvlerkflap |
| 6th | 829 | Witvlerkflap |
| 7th | 860 | Witvlerkflap |
References and further reading
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 55The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 349
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 390
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 424
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 737
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 738
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 579
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 567
Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 416
Newman s 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: 438
LBJ s - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 123
Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 310
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 Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 3 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 14
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 261
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 113
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 216
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 277
Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 684
Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 114
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 28
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 28
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 310
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