Rufous-tailed Weaver (Histurgops ruficauda) - 8 July 2013. Lake Magadi, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha Region, Tanzania.






Adult with dark bill and light blue eye above digiscoped. Immatures with yellow bill and dark eye below taken with Nikon P510. These birds were extraordinarily tame and conspicuous around the picnic area adjacent to Lake Magadi. Considered a northern Tanzania endemic, it has recently been recorded just across the line at Masai Mara in Kenya.

The species is traditionally classified in the Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies) an arrangement continued by HBW and Clements but moved to the Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) by IOC who follow the Sibley & Monroe classification. It is the only member of its genus. Some authors change the specific epithet to ruficaudus for gender agreement. However this change is incorrect because ruficauda is an invariable noun phrase, not an adjective. [Reference]

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter).
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