Vidua

Vidua is a genus of small passerine birds in the family Viduidae, commonly known as indigobirds and whydahs. They are native to sub-Saharan Africa and inhabit open habitats such as savannas, grasslands, and woodland edges, as well as agricultural landscapes.

The genus includes about a dozen species, with examples such as the common indigobird (Vidua chalybea), the long-tailed widowbird (Vidua paradisaea), and the pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura). Males typically have striking plumage and, in many species, long tails, while females are cryptically colored in brown tones. Vidua species are obligate brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches and relying on host parents to incubate and feed their young.

Each Vidua species usually parasitizes one or a few host species. The eggs laid in host nests often mimic the appearance of the host’s eggs to reduce rejection, and the parasite chicks are reared by the foster parents along with the host’s own chicks. This brood parasitism shapes much of their reproductive strategy and distribution, linking their success to the availability of suitable hosts.

Behaviorally, male Vidua taxa perform distinctive courtship displays and may sing or mimic the songs of their host species, a trait that helps in mate attraction and species recognition. Their ecology centers on open habitats where host estrildids are common, and they often occur in areas modified by humans, such as farmlands and edges.

Taxonomically, Vidua is placed in the Viduidae, a lineage closely related to other African brood-parasitic birds. In older classifications, it was sometimes grouped with Estrildidae. Most Vidua species are not currently considered threatened, though local populations can be affected by habitat loss.