Pin-tailed Whydahs are fascinating birds and the thought they could breed in
the United States in unlikely but an intriguing possibility. I have included
the Whydah information from a paper Kendra Kocab and I wrote for the Texas
Ornithological Society's 2014 Bird Annual. This species clearly illustrates
why we should pay more attention to exotic birds.
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
o Native Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
o Salient features: Breeding males are black and white with very long
tails and orange bills; females and non-breeding males are sparrow-like with a
bold black-and-buff face pattern and red-orange bill
o Origin: Escaped cage birds. One of the Puerto Rico finches (see
Scaly-breasted Munia above). This bird formerly commanded high prices of $125
or more in the pet trade. However, they are established on Puerto Rico.
o Status: This strikingly beautiful finch is a brood parasite, requiring
particular other finch species to raise its young. In the United States none of
its known hosts are established, so it seems unlikely that it would become
established. However, it is reported more often, is more widespread, and occurs
in larger numbers than one could predict based on escaped birds alone. The
presence of fairly large flocks of twenty individuals in summer suggest
breeding success. During the breeding season, males are territorial and a
female may lay more than 20 eggs. This species has the capability to be highly
productive. In Texas and California they are often in the company of
Scaly-breasted Munias, suggesting munias could be the whydah's host species.
However, in their native Africa, none of the 20 species of Vidua parasitic
finches are known to utilize a Lonchura munia species as a host. Additionally,
one of the remarkable adaptations of whydahs is that the chicks have the gape
pattern of their host, none of which are found in the United States. All of
this makes the use of munias seem unlikely. However, that is what our
observations suggest and observers in California have suggested it as well.
Equally unlikely is that they could be using some native species as a host in
Texas and California. Close and extended observation of this exotic will be
required to determine its status in Texas. Because it is a brood parasite and
is adapting to our Texas environment, the need for observations of this exotic
species may be more important than any other.
Fred Collins, Director
Kleb Woods Nature Center
20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
281-357-5324
Harris County Precinct 3
Steve Radack Commissioner
www.pct3.com
-----Original Message-----
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Joseph Kennedy
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2016 3:59 PM
To: Dennis Shepler <dawgler@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [texbirds] Re: July 3rd for Birds
Pin-tailed whydahs are brood parasites like cowbirds and in their native
habitat specialize in small finches like waxbills and munias. It has been
assumed that they will not do as well here as the species that they parasitize
are not present. But as munias increase here as they have in California, they
apparently can provide a nesting habitat for the whydahs.
A couple of spots in southern CA have up to 50 whydahs at feeders etc. And they
do not apparently parasitize native birds although I saw one report of an
oriole related to whydahs. So the munias can be good for something as breeding
whydahs are spectacular birds.
On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 3:28 PM, Dennis Shepler <dawgler@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Howdy Texbirders
June 11, 2016 Red-vented Bulbul Survey, Heights area, Houston Texas.
Citizen Science Project of the Houston Audubon Society, Fred Collins
and Kendra Kocab, Bulbul Survey Detectors organizers.
The report is a good read and I thank Fred, Kendra, et. al. for their
effort.
Sooo,
This morning I decided to chase a couple of exotics (Bronze Mannakin
and Scaly-breasted Munia) that were recently posted on eBird (yep, the
directions are available on eBird). Both species were present. After
I left, Michael Cooper, who was also at the site, scored a Pin-tailed Wydah.
Of note, there are a few churches within one mile from where these
exotics have been observed. The release of birds after a wedding by members
of the
wedding party is popular at some churches. A possible endless supply of
released cage birds for the area. Those folks ought to release some
Gouldian Finches : ) Dennis West Houston Harris County
--
W. Dennis Shepler
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking
permission from the List Owner
