Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Range

• Central & South Africa

Habitat

• Savannas

Diet

• Grass seeds

These brood parasites lay their eggs in the nests of Red-billed Firefinches instead of raising the chicks themselves.

Male Village Indigobirds learn the songs of their adoptive parents and females learn to listen for these songs to find a mate. Found in sub-Saharan regions, they are one of ten species of small African finches with shiny black males and sparrow-patterned females.