Vidua

bird genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The genus Vidua comprises several species of African birds commonly known as whydahs. These birds are characterized by their long, dark tails, which can resemble a funeral veil.1

Whydahs belong to the family Ploceidae and are divided into two subfamilies: Viduinae and Ploceinae. The Viduinae, which includes the genus Vidua, are known for their social parasitism. In this behavior, the female Vidua lays her eggs in the nests of specific weaver finch species, relying on the host birds to incubate and raise the young.1

Males of the genus Vidua are typically black and possess greatly elongated central tail feathers. Common species include the pin-tailed whydah (V. macroura) and the shaft-tailed whydah (V. regia). The name "whydah" is associated with the town of Ouidah in Benin, where these birds are frequently observed.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

whydah
Vidua

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

weaver
) Whydahs (Vidua) are social parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other species of weavers, which then raise the whydahs’ young.
Read More
) Whydahs (Vidua) are social parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other species of weavers, which then raise the whydahs’ young.
Read More

whydah
…each species of the genus Vidua (probably eight or nine species, including those assigned by some authorities to the genera Steganura, Hypochera, or Tetraenura) is a social parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of a particular species of weaver finch for incubation and development. Males are mostly black and…
Read More
…each species of the genus Vidua (probably eight or nine species, including those assigned by some authorities to the genera Steganura, Hypochera, or Tetraenura) is a social parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of a particular species of weaver finch for incubation and development. Males are mostly black and…
Read More