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Overview
Northern red bishop

Northern red bishop

Wikipedia

The northern red bishop or orange bishop is a small passerine bird in the family Ploceidae. It is part of the largest genus in the family with over 60 different species. Its sister species is the Southern red bishop. This species is most recognizable by the bright reddish orange with contrasting black plumage displayed by the breeding male. It is most common throughout the northern African continent but has also been introduced to areas in the western hemisphere.

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Distribution

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs widely from the Sahel and savannas of West Africa east through the Nile basin to the Horn of Africa, favoring grasslands, marsh edges, and agricultural fields. It frequents wetlands with tall reeds, floodplains, and seasonally wet grasslands, and readily uses sugarcane and other cereal crops. Outside of Africa, it has established localized populations from escapes in parts of the Caribbean and the southwestern United States. It adapts well to human-modified landscapes where seed-bearing grasses and water are available.

Altitude Range

0–2000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size10–12 cm
Wing Span15–18 cm
Male Weight0.021 kg
Female Weight0.018 kg
Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

Breeding males puff up their fiery orange-red plumage and perform bouncing display flights over tall grasses to attract females. The species often nests colonially in reeds or dense grasses, with intricately woven, oval nests. It is closely related to the Southern red bishop and has been introduced beyond Africa, where small feral populations occur. Non-breeding males and females are much duller and can resemble small sparrows.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo
Bird photo
1873 illustration of an orange bishop, by John Gerrard Keulemans

1873 illustration of an orange bishop, by John Gerrard Keulemans

Euplectes franciscan in Ghana

Euplectes franciscan in Ghana

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with bounding display flights

Social Behavior

Often breeds in loose colonies in tall grasses or reeds near water. Males are highly territorial within display patches and may be polygynous, courting multiple females. Nests are woven from grasses and placed low in dense vegetation, with the male doing much of the construction.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Males give a rapid, buzzy chatter interspersed with thin, sibilant notes during display flights and from prominent perches. Contact calls are sharp and metallic; flocks produce a constant twittering over seed-rich fields.

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