Vidua interjecta
Exclamatory Paradise Whydah
A brood-parasitic finch of Sudanian savanna and broadleaf woodland. Breeding males are mostly black with a rufous collar and a long, oddly widened tail; females and non-breeding males are brown-backed with pale underparts and a reddish bill. Recorded in The Gambia, including the North Bank region.
Identification
Breeding males are separated from other paradise whydahs mainly by tail shape and subtle collar tone — features that can be genuinely difficult to distinguish in the field. As an obligate brood parasite of pytilias, it also mimics pytilia calls.
Want to see the Exclamatory Paradise Whydah?
Join Yaya on a trip to one of the sites below, or ask about an itinerary built around it — he'll help you plan the best way to find it in the field.
Tours that target this bird
A carefully paced 15-day tour from the Atlantic coast through the mangrove-lined River Gambia and into the eastern part of the country, balancing serious birding with rest, wildlife and Gambian culture. Around 300 species are possible depending on season.
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A comprehensive birding, wildlife and nature tour combining the finest habitats of The Gambia with Northern Senegal's Saloum Delta — coastal wetlands, mangroves, woodland, rice fields, savannah and riverine forest, plus a boat excursion to the Scissor-tailed Kite colony at Kousmar.
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