ML214092911
Contributor
Robert Humphries Media from this contributor Profile
Date
Location
Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Gauteng, South Africa
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Males chasing rivals and females; displaying. The male Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) is a prime example of extreme sexual selection. During the breeding season males moult into black plumage with orange and white shoulders, or epaulettes, and grow extremely long tails – up to half a metre (20 inches) long. Their long tails make flying difficult as males defend their territories in grassland, as well as probably making them more vulnerable to predators. This clip shows a male Long-tailed Widowbird performing his awkward display flight in the Rietvlei grassland, then chasing a female. He then perched on a nearby road sign, and displayed and called.
Technical information
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 146.78 MB