The black-winged red bishop, formerly known in southern Africa as the fire-crowned bishop, is a resident breeding bird species in tropical Africa from Senegal to Sudan and south to Angola, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Region
Tropical Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from West Africa (Senegal) across the Sahel and savanna belt to Sudan and South Sudan, and south through Central and East Africa to Angola, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Favors moist grasslands, marshes, floodplains, rice paddies, and edges of papyrus or reedbeds. Also uses agricultural fields and fallow land near water. During the non-breeding season, it spreads into drier savannas and cultivated landscapes while remaining close to seedy grasses.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Breeding males are striking red and black, but outside the breeding season they molt into a cryptic brown plumage similar to females. Males are polygynous and perform fluttering display flights over reeds to attract mates. They weave oval, hanging nests from fresh grasses, often low over water. This species may form large, noisy flocks in non-breeding periods, sometimes mixing with other bishops and weavers.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forms small to large flocks outside the breeding season. Males establish display territories in wetlands and may mate with multiple females. Nests are intricately woven from fresh grass strips and placed among reeds or tall grasses, often over shallow water.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Male gives a series of buzzy twitters, wheezy notes, and dry chits during display flights. Calls include sharp contact notes used to keep flock cohesion in tall grass.
Plumage
Breeding male with vivid red to orange-red crown, mantle, and rump contrasting with black face, throat, breast, belly, and wings; tail dark. Non-breeding male and female are brown, streaked above with paler underparts and fine streaking.
Diet
Feeds mainly on grass seeds and cereal grains such as millet and rice, gleaned from seed heads or the ground. During the breeding season it supplements with insects and other small invertebrates to meet protein needs. Will exploit agricultural areas and recently burned grasslands where fresh seed is abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages in rank grasses, reed margins, floodplains, and edges of cultivation near water. Often feeds in mixed-species flocks with other bishops and weavers, moving through seedy patches in short flights.
