Northern Red Bishop

The Northern Red Bishop or orange bishop (Euplectes franciscanus) is a small passerine bird in the family Ploceidae. It is part of the largest genus in the family with over 60 different species. Its sister species is the Southern red bishop (Euplectes orix). It is most common throughout the northern African continent but has also been introduced to areas in the western hemisphere.

This tiny short-tailed bishop is around 11 cm and weighs between 12 and 22 grams. Pigments from substances in their diet are used to make the colorful red-orange feathers. In particular, carotenoids, which are heavily reliant on nutrition, are the sources of the yellow, orange, and red hues. The two main carotenes that contribute to the bird's colour in the wild are lutein and two red fractions (R1 and R2) produced from lutein. Captive northern red bishops are deficient in the R2 red fraction carotenoid. The male's backside is covered in this plumage, which extends from the chin to the back of the head, the throat, and the breast. The crown, forehead, flank, and belly are all dark black. The tail and upper wings are brown, with pale legs and a black bill.