Although you can't see any red throat patch on this individual, it is a Red-collared widowbird. Biological research has shown that the red spot and the long tail are two different signals that are both costly to produce. But they do not serve the same purpose. A red throat patch, larger or smaller, is considered to give an advantage in territorial battles. A long tail, on the other hand, seems to be the main signal for attracting females. The Red-collared widowbird is polygynous, meaning it establishes a territory with many females. It is therefore a kind of Catch-22 - betting on a red spot or a long tail - because a large territory can accommodate several females, but then it is a matter of getting them there. If the male can attract many females but has a small territory (like the male in the picture), it is not certain that he can keep them all... As can be seen from the picture, the tail can be quite straggly - but researchers have shown that a straggling or well-shaped tail does not play any role for the females. It's the size that counts... Once the male has attracted the females, he lures them to makeshift nests that he has built. After mating, the female completes the nest, lays her eggs, incubates and raises the young. The males contribute nothing to these tasks.