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

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 182

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

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 350

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 65

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 61

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 56

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 201

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 - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 741

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 740

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 581

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 418

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

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

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 122

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 113

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 418

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 413

Everyones 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 Sinclairs 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

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 114

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

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

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: 310

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

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds