Explore the Heart of South Africa: Nature, Culture, Adventure
Long-tailed Widowbird
Afrikaans name: Langstertflap
Male Long-tailed Widowbird
Photo © Steven Herbert
Euplectes progne
During summer the male Long-tailed Widowbird is very distinctive. They have black plumage with some red and white on their wings. The distinctive feature is, however, the very long tail. Females, and non-breeding males, are far more drab.
These birds are often found in areas of open grassland or vleis. They are found in the central parts of South Africa from the Eastern Cape through to southern Limpopo.
The main foods of the Long-tailed Widowbirds are seeds and insects.
During summer the males mate with up to 6 females at a time. The nest is a ball of grass amongst a clump of grass. Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid.
Roberts Birds Names by Edition
| Edition | Roberts nr | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 818 | Diatropura procne |
| 2nd | 818 | Diatropura progne |
| 3rd | 818 | Diatropura progne |
| 4th | 818 | Euplectes progne |
| 5th | 832 | Euplectes progne |
| 6th | 832 | Euplectes progne |
| 7th | 862 | Euplectes progne |
| Edition | Roberts nr | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 818 | Long-Tailed Widow Bird |
| 2nd | 818 | Long-Tailed Widow-Bird |
| 3rd | 818 | Long-Tailed Widow |
| 4th | 818 | Long-Tailed Widow |
| 5th | 832 | Longtailed Widow |
| 6th | 832 | Longtailed Widow |
| 7th | 862 | Long-tailed Widowbird |
| Edition | Roberts nr | Afrikaans name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 818 | Flap |
| 2nd | 818 | Sakabula |
| 3rd | 818 | Flap |
| 4th | 818 | Flap |
| 5th | 832 | Langstertflap |
| 6th | 832 | Langstertflap |
| 7th | 862 | Langstertflap |
References and further reading
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 350The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 65
Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 61
Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 182
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 123
Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 201
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 56
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: 740
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 741
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 390
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 569
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 581
Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 324
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 440
Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 418
Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 413
Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 418
Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 113
LBJ s - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 122
KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 164
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 78
Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 38
Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 189
Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 310
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 117
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 261
Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 3 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 14
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 114
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 278
Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 684
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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