Red-billed quelea

The most numerous wild bird species in the world

Lip Kee


Red-billed quelea

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The most numerous wild bird species in the world

Population 1.5 billion

The Red-billed quelea is a small, short-tailed weaver bird that exhibits interesting variations in appearance depending on the season and sex. During the breeding season, males sport striking black face masks and vibrant red to pinkish bills, while females display more subdued hues, with dull yellow to pinkish bills and eye-rings. This sexual dimorphism adds to the visual intrigue of this species and aids in distinguishing between genders.

These birds are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats across Africa, including semi-arid areas, arid savannas, open-bushed grasslands, and cultivated areas. They are both resident and nomadic, with populations moving in response to the availability of food and water. The Red-billed quelea is primarily granivorous, relying heavily on annual grass seeds for sustenance. When grass seed supplies are limited, they may turn to cereal crops, posing a significant challenge to agricultural efforts in some regions. Interestingly, despite their predominantly seed-based diet, chicks are fed insects by their parents, highlighting the species’ adaptability and resourcefulness.

Breeding behavior in Red-billed queleas is characterized by colony nesting, with large numbers of nests often clustered together on a single tree. Some colonies can contain upwards of 6,000 nests, underscoring the social nature of these birds and their reliance on communal nesting sites for reproduction. Breeding success is closely tied to environmental factors such as rainfall and the availability of nesting materials, highlighting the species’ vulnerability to changes in climate and habitat conditions.

Roosting behavior in Red-billed queleas also plays a crucial role in their survival strategies. At communal roosting sites, individuals exchange vital information about the locations of food sources, allowing them to maximize foraging efficiency and exploit resources effectively. This collaborative behavior reflects the species’ adaptability and intelligence, enabling them to thrive in dynamic and challenging environments.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Angola
2018
Benin
2018
Botswana
2018
Burkina Faso
2018
Burundi
2018
Cameroon
2018
Central Af. Rep.
2018
Chad
2018
Congo-Brazzaville
2018
Côte D’ivoire
2018
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
2018
Djibouti
2018
Non-Breeding
Eritrea
2018
Eswatini
2018
Ethiopia
2018
Gabon
2018
Gambia
2018
Ghana
2018
Guinea-Bissau
2018
Kenya
2018
Lesotho
2018
Malawi
2018
Mali
2018
Mauritania
2018
Mozambique
2018
Namibia
2018
Niger
2018
Nigeria
2018
Rwanda
2018
Senegal
2018
Somalia
2018
South Africa
2018
South Sudan
2018
Breeding
Sudan
2018
Tanzania
2018
Uganda
2018
Zambia
2018
Zimbabwe
2018

Did you know?

  • They are considered serious pests in Africa; the control actions like spraying, and the use of explosives, have harmful environmental and biodiversity consequences.
  • They play an essential role in maintaining open grassland habitat.

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No