Mwalimu-G
Elder Lister
The long tailed black bird of the grassy highlands has a unique mating dance in which the males -which have the long tails - jump up and down in a demonstration of stamina, all in an effort to impress the belles (who are of a different colour).
The all black feathers of the male of the species is responsible for its name - the widowbird- the scientists who named thought it looks like a mourning woman's weeds. As you will see in the video below that was recorded in the Maasai Mara the dance can be quite a spectacle as the gentlemen try to outdo each other. Look out for the widowbird in the grasslands of Nyandarua and especially in Kinangop next time you visit. It is called murugu in Gikuyu and variations of the name among other highlands tribes.
The all black feathers of the male of the species is responsible for its name - the widowbird- the scientists who named thought it looks like a mourning woman's weeds. As you will see in the video below that was recorded in the Maasai Mara the dance can be quite a spectacle as the gentlemen try to outdo each other. Look out for the widowbird in the grasslands of Nyandarua and especially in Kinangop next time you visit. It is called murugu in Gikuyu and variations of the name among other highlands tribes.
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