The red-headed quelea is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across savannas, open grasslands, and agricultural landscapes, including millet and sorghum fields. It frequents edges of wetlands, floodplains, and seasonally damp areas where grasses seed profusely. Colonies often form near water in reedbeds or thorny shrubs. The species avoids dense closed-canopy forest and true desert but readily exploits mosaics of scrub and farmland. Movements track rainfall and seeding grasses, producing fluctuating local abundance.
Altitude Range
0–2500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The red-headed quelea is a small, highly gregarious weaver that forms large flocks and breeds colonially in reeds and thorny bushes. Breeding males show a distinctive red head with a dark face mask, while females and non-breeding birds are streaky brown. They often follow seasonal rains and can concentrate in huge numbers where grass seeds are abundant. In agricultural areas they may gather in fields and can become localized crop pests.
Temperament
social and highly gregarious
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, agile flock turns
Social Behavior
Flocks can number from dozens to many thousands, especially outside the breeding season. Breeds colonially, with males constructing nests in reeds or thorny shrubs and displaying to visiting females. Nesting sites are typically near water and can be densely packed. Pair bonds are seasonal and colonies may shift location year to year.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A continuous, chattering chorus of twitters and buzzes, especially in colonies. Calls include sharp chips and harsh, nasal notes exchanged in flight and while foraging.
Plumage
Breeding males have a vivid red head and face with a dark mask, streaked brown upperparts, and paler, often yellow-tinged underparts; non-breeding birds are buffy-brown and heavily streaked. Females lack the bright red and show a plainer, streaked appearance with a pale supercilium. Overall plumage is finely streaked on the back with cleaner underparts.
Diet
Primarily consumes seeds of wild grasses and cereal crops, husking them with its stout conical bill. During the breeding season, it supplements its diet with small insects such as termites and other arthropods to meet protein demands. It forages both on the ground and while perched on seed heads, often in tight flocks. Opportunistic feeding follows seeding events after rains.
Preferred Environment
Open grasslands, savannas, stubble, and croplands, especially millet and sorghum fields. Also feeds along the margins of wetlands and floodplains where grasses seed abundantly.
