| Re: strange red bird , can anybody help id it?
It's a Southern Red Bishop, Euplectes orix, 1 of 4 red bishop species that occur in Africa, south of Sahara. Remember seeing lots of these stunning birds in wetlands around South Africa. An escape for sure, but a great garden tick- basically seeed-eaters + may survive if it can escape the local Sparrowhawk. In non-breeding plumage they are quite drab sparrow-like birds. |