Introduction

Boddaert published the first Linnean binomial names (scientific names) for the Red-collared Widowbird. This species was illustrated in Edme-Louis Daubenton's book of illustrations - the coloured engravings by Francois-Nicolas Martinet were published in 1783 as Planches enluminees. But Buffon had also published an earlier version with a limited number of species in a book of plates in 1770, and the only weaver to feature here was the Red-collared Widowbird. The 1770 painting may have been painted by Martinet, but is different to the later version in 1783. Both paintings, however, show a red circle on the breast of the male widowbird instead of a collar. This may be due to the breast feathers being damaged between collection and arrival in Paris.

Boddaert and Buffon gave this species the French name Veuve en feu, ie. burning widow, referring to the bright red breast colour in contrast to the rest of the black plumage. Boddaert also gave the scientific name based on the bright red on the breast of the male.

Buffon noted that the bird originated from Cap de Bonne Esperance & a I'ile Panay, ie the Cape of Good Hope and Panay island in the Philippines. This was based on one of Buffon's many correspondents, Pierre Sonnerat. Sonnerat made several voyages to southeast Asia, visiting the Philippines and Moluccas between 1769 and 1772. He must have collected the Red-collared Widowbird in 1769 (or 1770) in South Africa en route from the Philippines to France, where Buffon illustrated it in 1770. Sonnerat published his travel diary in 1776 and also listed this widowbird from "Cap de Bonne Esperance & a I'ile Panay". Why he listed Panay Island is not clear.

The Cape of Good Hope could mean the Cape in its broadest sense, ie either the Western or Eastern Cape. Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1955 restricted the locality to the Eastern Cape, as the Red-collared Widowbird does not occur in the Western Cape. Buffon had many correspondents who sent him specimens from different places in the world, but no details are published for the Red-collared Widowbird as to who collected this species.

Scientific citation

Meaning of names

First English name

Alternate names

Collector

Date collected

Locality collected

Type specimens

Identification. The adult male Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens in breeding plumage (above left) is black, often with a red collar or head, and a long tail. Females (below) and non-breeding males are dull coloured, with a yellowish eye-stripe and yellowish or buffy breast sharply demarcated from the white belly.

Distribution. The Red-collared Widowbird is a widespread widowbird in Africa, being found from Senegal across to Ethiopia and south to eastern South Africa in the localities shown on the map below (based on Birds of Africa). Many subspecies have been recorded. Currently accepted subspecies are:
nominate E.a. ardens, found in West, central and southern Africa (red on map); the male usually has a red collar on the breast (above left) but may be black;
E.a. laticauda, found in Ethiopia, Eritrea and SE Sudan (blue on map); the male has a red collar, crown and nape;
E.a. suahelicus, found in the highlands of Kenya and N Tanzania (green on map); the male has a red collar, and varying amount of red on the head (above right).

The highland laticauda and suahelicus are isolated from the Iowland birds and from each other, and may be separate species. Molecular studies indicate that the Red-collared Widowbird is a bishop with a long tail, rather than a widow.

Habitat. It occurs in a variety of habitats including grassland, rank vegetation, cultivated areas, and slopes with sparse trees.

Food. The Red-collared Widowbird feeds on seeds, insects including termites, nectar. It forages on the ground, often in flocks of 200 birds or more.

Breeding. This species is polygynous and territorial. Males with longer tails attract more females and males with larger red collars held larger territories. Males prefer hillsides, where they can glide downhillfor display flights.

The nest is an oval structure with a side entrance, built by the male and lined and strengthened by the female. A male may have 3-22 nest structures placed in tall grass, on his territory.

The eggs are grey or blue-green and heavily speckled with brown, often forming ring near the thick end (see photo at phown 2411).

Range changes in SA

The points below match the points on the map above.

1. The core range of this widowbird in South Africa lies from eastern Mpumalanga to southern KwaZulu-Natal, excluding Zululand (this core has high reporting rates in SABAP2)
2. The Eastern Cape overall has slightly more decreases than increases between SABAP1 and SABAP2.

Overall the Red-collared Widowbird shows a fairly stable population between SABAP1 and SABAP2. There are many grids with large or small changes, but these are fairly patchy.

Range changes elsewhere