Pin-Tailed Whydah

The pin-tailed whydah is not nearly as spectacular as its cousin, the eastern paradise whydah, but it still has an amazingly long tail and a brightly colored red bill. I saw it twice in Murchison Falls NP in Uganda. The first time it was standing in the top of a tree and I got one blurry photo as it was taking off. The second time was outside the cafeteria at the Pakuba Lodge, up above the outlet of Lake Albert. I got two photos of it in the grass. 

Pin-tailed whydah illustration of a breeding male from Birds of the World.

The breeding male has a black crown, back and tail; dark brown wings with white patches; white underparts and head, aside from the crown; and a red bill.  

Illustration of a female pin-tailed whydah from Birds of the World.

The female and non-breeding male have streaked brown upperparts; whitish underparts with buff flanks; and a buff and black face pattern. 

Range of the pin-tailed whydah from Birds of the World. It is found in much of sub-Saharan Africa, favoring savannah, scrub and grasslands.