Bishop Bird

Habitat : from deserts to woods ; also towns and villages.

Diet : grains, seeds and fruits ; some insects.

Breeding 2-7 eggs per clutch ; incubation 9-20 days.

Size length 11-65cm (most 15-25cm).

Plumage : mostly browns and greys with black, dark or light brown steaks, mainly on wings.


What are bishop birds famous for ?

Bishop birds make up a group of birds within a family of WEAVERBIRDS. They are small birds, about 13cm long, and are found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, often in open grassland or clearings in forests. These birds are tree-dwellers with bright yellow or red plumage. They make tough bell-shaped nests from sharp twigs, thorns, grasses and other material, weaving the pieces together with their bills in the way that people weave rugs and thick cloth.

Bishop birds are renowned for their polygamy, unusual among birds, each male mating with up to 6 females.

The male tries to attract a female to mate. The nest is high in tree, well out of reach of animals. At times they are built on branches over hanging water, to provide security for the eggs and young.