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Straw-tailed Whydah (also Whyda)

Viduidae: Vidua fischeri

The Straw-tailed Whydah is about 11cm in length, and is a member of the indigobird family. It feeds on seeds.This pair was seen in Amboseli. This bird, like all indigobirds, is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nest of estrilid finches, mainly the Red-billed Firefinch. Unlike the cuckoo, the chicks do not destroy the eggs or kill the chicks of the host.

The Whydah lays its eggs in the nest of the Firefinch, seen here.