Yellow Bishop
NameYellow Bishop
Common NameYellow Bishop
Scientific NameEuplectes afer
FamilyPloceidae
Wingspan (cm)13
Length (cm)11
Weight (g)15
Plumage DetailsBreeding males are entirely glossy black with bright golden-yellow rump and upper tail coverts, and yellow lesser and median wing coverts forming a prominent shoulder patch. Non-breeding males and females are streaky brown with a paler underside and a distinct supercilium.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a series of buzzing, chattering, and wheezing notes, often delivered from a perch or during their characteristic display flight.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsgrassland, wetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. There is also an introduced population in the Iberian Peninsula.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Breeding male: glossy black body with bright yellow rump and shoulder patches, Short, conical bill, Often found in flocks near water, Undulating display flight of breeding males
Description
The Yellow Bishop is a small, stocky weaver bird. Males in breeding plumage are striking with a glossy black body and vibrant yellow rump and shoulder patches, often seen displaying over their territories in grasslands and wetlands.
