parasitic weaverbirds 87 



Plumages 



Vidua chalybeata chalybeata 



Adult male in breeding plumage: Like that of V. amaurop- 

 teryx, but primaries and rectrices darker, Fuscous to Fuscous-Black 

 with no paler external margins. Plumage of head, body, and upper 

 wing-coverts black with moderately pronounced Dusky Greenish 

 Blue gloss. Bill white or pinkish white. Feet Apricot Orange to 

 Cinnamon-Rufous. Iris brown. Size slightly smaller, with wings 

 59-65 mm., tail 36-40 mm., culmen from base 9.4-10.8 mm., and 

 tarsus 12.5-13.5 mm. 



Adult male in nonpreeding plumage: Like that of V. amaurop- 

 teryx, but less uniform in appearance above. Edges of the feathers 

 paler, between Pinkish Cinnamon and Pinkish Buff, making the dark 

 centers stand out more in contrast. Center of crown Cinnamon-Buff. 

 Sides of head, chin, throat, breast, sides, and flanks more tawny, light 

 Cinnamon-Buff. 



Female: Like female of V. amauropteryx, but generally slightly 

 paler above and below. Throat and breast averaging less brownish, 

 more grajash. Not certainly distinguishable from nonbreeding adult 

 male of its own species. Slightly smaller in size, with wings 58-62 

 mm., tail 34-37.5 mm., culmen from base 9-10.3 mm., and tarsus 

 12-13 mm. 



Juvenal (sexes alike) : Like juvenal of V. amauropteryx, but 

 very slightly more rufescent above. Edges of feathers of back, upper 

 wing-coverts, and remiges slightly paler, dusty Tawny-Olive. Cheeks, 

 chin, throat, and breast also more tawny, Cinnamon-Buff. 



Vidua chalybeata codringtoni 



Adult male in breeding plumage: Like that of nominate race, 

 but larger, with wings 66-70 mm. Gloss of plumage more greenish. 

 General color dull bluish black with a dark Bottle Green wash. Feet 

 apparently averaging paler, salmon pink (but very few specimens 

 were examined.) 



Adult male in nonbreeding plumage: Like that of nominate race, 

 but larger. Said to have top of head blackish with broad central buff 

 stripe. Sides of head and supraorbital stripe buff. Broad blackish 

 patch behind the eye (suggesting onset of prenuptial molt). Upper 

 back streaked blackish and buff. Rump plain earth brown indistinctly 

 mottled with dusky. Remiges and rectrices blackish with buffy edges. 

 Chin buff. Center of abdomen and under tail-coverts white. Under 

 wing-coverts mottled brown and white. This description, taken 

 largely from Mackworth-Praed and Grant, differs from that of the 

 nominate race more than I would expect of actual specimens. I have 

 not seen any actual specimens. 



