The village indigobird, also known as the steelblue widowfinch or the Combassou finch, is a small songbird belonging to the family Viduidae. It is distinguishable from other indigobird species by bill and leg colours, the colour tinge of the male's breeding plumage, song, and to lesser extent, the nestling's plumage and mouth pattern. The bill colour can be red or white depending on the population, and there is some regional variation in the colour tone of the male's plumage.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Widespread across dry savannas, open woodland, farmland, and village edges, avoiding dense forest and true desert. They favor grassy areas with scattered shrubs and human-modified habitats where firefinches are common. Presence closely tracks host firefinch distribution, including gardens, fallow fields, and roadside thickets. They perch conspicuously to sing from wires or tree tops and forage mostly on or near the ground.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The village indigobird is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of firefinches, especially the red-billed firefinch. Males famously mimic the songs and calls of their local host species, which helps attract females reared by the same host. Populations show bill color polymorphisms (red or white) that can correlate with host use and region. They are often found around human settlements, which inspired their common name.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Males defend prominent singing perches and display to multiple females; the species is typically polygynous. As obligate brood parasites, females lay eggs in host firefinch nests and do not build their own. Outside the breeding season they may gather loosely in small groups around food and water.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Male song is a complex series of high, thin notes and trills mixed with remarkably accurate imitations of local firefinch calls. Phrases are delivered from exposed perches and repeated persistently, often interspersed with rattles and sibilant buzzes.
Plumage
Breeding male is glossy blue-black with an indigo sheen; non-breeding male and female are brown and streaked, finch-like. Plumage is smooth and sleek in males, with subtle pale edging on wings in females. Bill color varies by population, either red or white, and legs range pinkish to pale.
Diet
Primarily eats small grass seeds and millet-like grains gleaned from the ground or low seedheads. Will visit harvested fields, paths, and yard edges to pick spilled seeds. Occasionally takes small invertebrates incidentally, along with grit for digestion.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open grassy patches, fallow fields, and around villages where seeds are abundant. Often forages near the edges of scrub and along tracks or fence lines, staying close to cover.
