The Jos Plateau indigobird (Vidua maryae) is a species of bird in the family Viduidae. It was thought to be endemic to Nigeria, but has been recently reported from northern Cameroon. [2] It lays its eggs in the nest of the rock firefinch which is also restricted to Nigeria. Because of their inability to incubate their eggs, they lay their eggs in the nest of the rock firefinch and then take away the exact number of laid eggs from the host bird in order to avoid suspicion from the host bird . After hatching they exhibit dominance against the hatchlings of the rock firefinches. Their breeding seasons are all round the year but more pronounced during the cold Harmattan period between July and December.
| Jos Plateau indigobird | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Viduidae |
| Genus: | Vidua |
| Species: | V. maryae
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| Binomial name | |
| Vidua maryae Payne, 1982
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| Location of the Jos Plateau within Nigeria | |
Its natural habitats are dry woodland and shrubland in rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Vidua maryae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22728558A94989896. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22728558A94989896.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Mills, M.S.L. (2010). Rock Firefinch Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis and its brood parasite, Jos Plateau Indigobird Vidua maryae, in northern Cameroon. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 17(1): 86–89.
- Sinclair, Ian & Peter Ryan (2003). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Cape Town: Struik.
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