Euplectes is a genus of passerine bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae, that contains the bishops and widowbirds. They are all native to Africa south of the Sahara. It is believed that all birds in the genus are probably polygynous.
The genus Euplectes was introduced by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1829 with the southern red bishop as the type species. The name combines the Ancient Greek eu meaning "fine" or "good" with the Neo-Latin plectes meaning "weaver". When choosing their mates, females within this genus will often choose males with longer tail lengths, even in species with comparatively shorter tail lengths.
Species The genus contains 18 species.
Image Scientific name Common name Distribution Euplectes afer Yellow-crowned bishop sparsely distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa Euplectes diadematus Fire-fronted bishop Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania Euplectes aureus Golden-backed bishop western Angola and São Tomé Island Euplectes gierowii Black bishop Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda Euplectes nigroventris Zanzibar red bishop Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania Euplectes hordeaceus Black-winged red bishop Senegal to Sudan and south to Angola, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique Euplectes orix Southern red bishop or red bishop, north to Angola, southern and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, northern Zambia southern Uganda north-east Nigeria and south-west Kenya Euplectes franciscanus Northern red bishop or orange bishop, Africa south of the Sahara Desert and north of the Equator Euplectes capensis Yellow bishop Afromontane Euplectes axillaris Fan-tailed widowbirdAngola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe Euplectes macroura Yellow-mantled widowbird Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Euplectes hartlaubi Marsh widowbird Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Euplectes psammacromius Montane widowbird northeast Zambia, northern Malawi and the highlands of southwestern Tanzania Euplectes albonotatus White-winged widowbird Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe Euplectes ardens Red-collared widowbirdGuinea, inland Sierra Leone, north Liberia, north Ivory Coast, southwest Niger, central and southeast Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, central and northeast Angola, Uganda, West Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, northwest and south Mozambique, Eswatini and east South Africa Euplectes laticauda Red-cowled widowbirdSudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and north Tanzania Euplectes progne Long-tailed widowbird Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, and Zambia Euplectes jacksoni Jackson's widowbird Kenya and Tanzania
Aviculture The yellow-crowned bishop and northern red bishop are popular in aviculture.
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