Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus Scientific name definitions

Alternatively named the Orange Bishop, this native of sub-Saharan Africa has naturalised populations in parts of southern Europe and the USA, as well as our region. In the Neotropics the species was first reported from the island of Puerto Rico around 1971, although it is speculated to have arrived during the previous decade, perhaps from Senegal. On Puerto it is locally uncommon on the north coast and rare elsewhere in the island’s coastal lowlands, where it feeds on rice seedlings. Since the 1980s the Northern Red Bishop has also become established in the Lesser Antilles, on Martinique and Guadeloupe, and there are also even more recent records on St. Croix, Jamaica, and Cuba. In addition, recent records are also available from South America, in northern Venezuela.

11 cm; 12–22 g. Small, short-tailed bishop. Male breeding has forehead, crown, lores, cheek and ear-coverts black, nape red, mantle and upper back red to red-brown, lower back to uppertail coverts red, tail brown (concealed, or almost so, by red uppertail coverts); upperwing brown with paler feather margins; chin, throat and breast red , belly and flanks black, thighs brown, undertail coverts red (almost covering rectrices below); red areas of plumage sometimes more orangey; iris dark brown; bill black; tarsi pale brown to pinkish. Female and non-breeding male (partly distinguishable only by size) have forehead to uppertail coverts brown with dark central streaks on feathers, wings brown, tail brown with paler edges of feathers; yellowish supercilium, brown to buff lores, cheek and ear-coverts; chin and throat white, breast buffy with faint streaking, belly and undertail coverts white; iris brown, bill brown to pinkish, tarsi pale brown to pinkish. Juvenile resembles female, but with broad buff feather edges until post-juvenile molt; male does not molt into nuptial plumage until second year.

S Mauritania, Senegambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, S Mali, N Sierra Leone, N Liberia, Burkina Faso, N Ivory Coast, Ghana (mainly inland, local on coast), Togo, Benin, SW Niger, Nigeria (primarily N of the great rivers), S Chad, N Cameroon, N Central African Republic, Sudan (especially R Nile and tributaries), South Sudan, W & NE Ethiopia, W Eritrea and NW & S Somalia, S to NE DRCongo, N Uganda and W Kenya (L Baringo and L Bogoria). Introduced (escaped cagebirds) in SW USA (near Los Angeles, in California; breeding reported also Arizona); introduced c. 1960 in West Indies on Puerto Rico, with breeding on Martinique and Guadeloupe, and recorded on Cuba, Jamaica and St Croix (Virgin Is). Reported introduction in Japan of E. orix more likely to be referable to present species.

Tall open or bushed grassland, also tall crops and rank margins of cultivated areas, favouring seasonally flooded areas for nesting; nests also in cultivated crops, e.g. rice (Oryza) in Mali, sugar cane (Saccharum) in Mauritania, millet in Sudan and maize (Zea mays) in Ethiopia. At 600–1800 m in E Africa, up to 2000 m in Ethiopia, but also in lowlands and coastal areas. Introduced population in West Indies inhabits grassy margins of sugar-cane fields.

Considered resident over much of range, but W of 20° E regular seasonal movements apparent. In Mauritania, moves N (up to 17°30' N) at start of rains, and in Senegal absent from breeding areas in dry season; in Mali moves N to breed in Sahel zone after rain, whereas in Nigeria present in Sahel and soudanian zones but moves S at start of rains (with fat reserves sufficient for flight of 600 km), and appears to be non-breeding visitor S of R Niger and R Benue. In E range, Ethiopian birds return to breeding areas in non-breeding plumage in Jun–Jul, with prenuptial moult in Aug–Sept; nomadic in Dec after breeding, and then absent from many breeding areas Jan–May. In Somalia, was reported as returning in spring, often in flocks with Quelea quelea.

Diet primarily small grass seeds, also insects. Seeds of millet favoured, in W Africa also those of guinea-corn (Sorghum bicolor). Nestlings at first fed chiefly with insects. Forages mostly on ground ; takes insects both on ground and in flight. Gregarious; large flocks form in non-breeding season, associating with other seed-eaters including canaries (Serinus) and waxbills (Estrildidae) in W Africa, also with congeners including E. hordeaceus, E. afer and E. albonotatus.

Song of thin squeaky notes followed by guttural “zee-zee-zee” buzzes and sizzling sounds. Rattling call when flying over; contact call a high-pitched “tsip”; harsh “chak” in alarm.

Season Aug–Nov in Gambia and Senegal, May–Oct in Mali and Ivory Coast, Jul–Sept in Ghana, Jun–Jul in Togo, Jul–Nov in Benin, Jun–Oct in Burkina Faso and Nigeria, Oct in Niger, Feb–Mar and Aug–Nov in Sudan, May–Sept in Ethiopia; in Somalia, Apr and Jul in NW and Jul–Sept in S; May–Oct in NE DRCongo and May–Jun in Uganda; in captivity, produced two broods within five weeks. Polygynous, with up to five females per male. Territorial, but males may be clustered (e.g. 10 males in 4 ha in Benin); territory may overlap with that of E. hordeaceus. Male performs display-flight with body plumage fluffed out ("bumble-flight") over territory, followed by perched courtship if female lands. Nest built by male, a globular structure with side entrance, made from coarse grass strips, lined by female with grass flowerheads, which project from entrance, placed 1–2 m above ground and supported by vertical grass or weed stems, or in cultivated crops, rarely 3–6 m above ground in bamboo, bush or tree; captive female built own nest, and disregarded those built by male. Clutch 2–4 eggs, plain blue, average size of 48 eggs 17·3 x 12·8 mm (Nigeria); incubation by female only, period 13–14 days in captivity; chicks fed by female alone, nestling period 14–16 days (in captivity, more than 23 days recorded); captive male occasionally fed fledged young. Male survived for more than 8 years in captivity.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common to abundant over much of its wide range. Regarded as a pest in some regions, and reported as damaging crops in Somalia. Breeds in important crops such as rice (Mali), sugar cane (Mauritania), millet (Sudan) and maize (Ethiopia); density of nests in millet estimated at ten times that of nests in wild grasses. Introduced population in West Indies appears to be thriving; breeds Mar–Nov in grassy edges of sugarcane crops.