Thursday, October 9, 2014

Northern Red Bishop

While in Elmina, Ghana, driving a short distance from our hotel, we spotted a beautiful distinctive bird in the green foliage off the side of the road. My cousin, Russ, stopped the car so that we could take photos. 
Northern red bishop in Elmina, Ghana.
It was a breeding northern red bishop - beautiful scarlet except for its black head, waistcoat and brown wings and tail. It has a conical black bill. The plumage of a non-breeding male is a pale yellow. It is a member of the weaver family. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara and north of the equator. It has also been introduced to Puerto Rico, Martinique and Guadalupe in the West Indies. 
Black head and brown wings.
Black waistcoat.

2 comments:

  1. From pale yellow to bright scarlet-that's quite a trick.

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  2. From the front he looks like he has a red scarf wrapped tightly around his neck.

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