Yellow Backed Whydah

Scientific Name: Coliuspasser macrourus

Origin: West Africa

This whydah has a beautiful yellow back when in breeding plumage. It is lively, alert and un-aggressive with birds of similar size and habits.

Description:

Size: 20 cm (8 in) in breeding plumage. 14cm (6 in) at other times.

COCK:

Body: black with some brown edging on wings. Shoulders and mantle: bright yellow during breeding season. Beak: black. Legs: dark brown. When not breeding the cock moults to resemble the hen.

HEN:

Slightly smaller and dull brown. Chin and throat bear a yellowish tinge. Stomach: white with brown streaks.

Diet: (Seedeater)

Plain canary seed, mixed millets and seeding grasses form the basic diet. Live food and spray millet are appreciated. Green food is consumed occasionally, but not every bird enjoys it. Grit and cuttlefish bone most always be available. A roomy aviary should be provided with a dry shelter for roosting. This species often tries to roost outdoors so it must be encouraged inside if the weather is damp. Any temperatures are not harmful, but wet weather can cause illness.

Breeding:

This whydah is not a parasitic species, but is polygamous. Breeding is encouraged if each cock bird has several hens. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to obtain hens.

The male bird builds the nest himself, using dried grass and small roots. The hen lines the nest with any soft material she can find, including feathers. She continues lining the nest even after the eggs are laid. By the time the young are ready to leave the nest, it is usually very solid.

The cock does not share in incubation and rearing. He can be quite spiteful, often chasing and annoying the hen. Usually three or four eggs are laid and incubation takes 13 days.

Yellow Backed Whydah Information

• The female bird of this specie almost looks similar to the female of the Orange Bishop. The female whydah is little bigger in size than the Orange Bishop hen.
• The bird is very friendly in nature. It can be easily maintained in a community bird aviary. It can stay with other peaceful bird species of the aviary.
• Though can be kept in a society but the bird should be ideally kept with other birds that are of its size.
• The male like almost all cocks of bird species is territorial. Pursues intruders during the breeding season.
• You are recommended to keep the birds in an aviary that has the dimension of 8’ x 8’ x 7’. Keep the floor of the aviary concrete. You may introduce some dry or easy beds on the floor. Branches of conifer trees would make the stay of the bird more convenient than usual. The branches provide the birds with excellent perches, perfect place to hide whenever they feel like doing so and provide warmth during the winter time.