Pin-tailed Whydah

Vidua macroura

The Pin-tailed Whydah is an extremely beautiful bird, especially the male when it's full tail plumage is present. 

However, for those considering the acquisition of the pin-tailed whydah as a pet, be aware of two important points that I learned the hard way.

One, pin-tailed whydah males are, in my experience, extremely aggressive; not only with the other birds, but also with other male whydahs. Aggressive, even in the absence of a female to provoke their rivalry. 

I purchased a pair that appeared to consist of a male and female. Unfortunately, the one that I thought to be a female (not having the long flowing tail feathers) was actually an immature male that had not achieved adult plumage. About the time that I started to realize my mistake; the young male attacked and killed the other male. 

Second, the Pin-tailed Whydah can be difficult to breed (even if you are smarter than I am and acquire a pair that do not happen to be the same gender). The Pin-tailed Whydah is referred to as "brood-parasitic"  meaning that they will lay their eggs in the nest of another species of birds (the other species being referred to as the "host"). The host birds will then sit on the eggs as brooding hens  acting as foster parents. See, Hosts of the Pintailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) in Southern Africa. 

Pin-tail Whydah's use estrildid finches (Estrildidae) as their hosts, with each species usually parasitizing only a single estrildid finch. According to this article, such species-specificity has promoted close co- evolutionary relationships between the parasites and their hosts. More on brood parasitic birds.

Pin-tailed Whydah by Honolulu Zoo

Pin-tailed Whydah stamps