Image via Macaulay Library
Long-tailed Widowbird
- Scientific name
- Euplectes progne
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Long
Where it came from
The long-tailed widowbird is native to the grasslands of southern Africa, particularly in countries like South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini. It belongs to the Ploceidae family and is primarily recognized for its dramatic sexual dimorphism, where males develop an exceptionally long, drooping tail during the breeding season to attract mates. The species has long been a subject of interest in evolutionary biology, most notably in the seminal 1982 experiments by Swedish biologist Malte Andersson.
Andersson’s research on the species utilized this bird to demonstrate the principles of sexual selection. By artificially manipulating the length of the males' tails, researchers were able to prove that female widowbirds demonstrate a clear preference for males with longer ornamental feathers. This field study remains a cornerstone in ornithology and evolutionary theory, illustrating how ornamental traits persist in nature despite the significant physical burden they place on the bird during flight.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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