Montane widowbird

Montane widowbird
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Ploceidae
Genus:	Euplectes
Species:	E. psammacromius
Binomial name
Euplectes psammacromius (Reichenow, 1900)
Synonyms
Pentethria psammocromia lapsus

The montane widowbird (Euplectes psammacromius), also known as the mountain marsh widowbird is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae, which is native to the eastern Afrotropics.

Range and habitat[]

It is an endemic resident of the eastern Afromontane grasslands. It occurs in northeast Zambia, northern Malawi and the highlands of southwestern Tanzania.

Description[]

Like all widowbirds the male and female plumages differ prominently during breeding season. In the breeding season males moult into a black breeding plumage, which includes long tail feathers and yellow shoulder patches (these patches retain a discrete appearance during the non-breeding period). Outside the breeding season the sexes are similar in appearance, both having speckled brown and black plumage.

Behaviour[]

During this period males defend territories in the early morning after sunrise and in the evening before sunset.

References[]

• BirdLife International 2004. Euplectes psammocromius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2007.
• Birds of East Africa. Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe. 2002.
• Degree project data. 2010. David Krantz. Biology student, Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg.

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