Cardinal Quelea
Quelea cardinalis
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPloceidae (Weavers and Allies)
- GenusQuelea (Queleas)
- SpeciesQuelea cardinalis (Cardinal Quelea)
About the Cardinal Quelea
The cardinal quelea (Quelea cardinalis) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The cardinal quelea is a small (about 10 centimetres or 3.9 inches long) sparrow-like bird with a short heavy black bill, that breeds in colonies. The male in breeding plumage has a red head extending onto the breast but not onto the streaked nape. The female has a yellowish face, brow stripes and throat. The non-breeding plumage of the male resembles that of the female, but retains some red on its head.
Gustav Hartlaub was the first to describe the cardinal quelea, giving it the scientific name Hyphantica cardinalis in 1880, based on specimens that were collected by Emin Pasha near Lado in South-Sudan during 1879. In 1951, Hans von Boetticher regarded the cardinal quelea and red-headed quelea sufficiently different from the red-billed quelea to create a new genus Queleopsis. Its name in Swahili is kwelea kidari-chekundu.
Based on recent DNA-analysis, the red-headed quelea forms a clade with the cardinal quelea, and this... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Cardinal Quelea in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Red-billed Quelea
Quelea quelea
Baglafecht Weaver
Ploceus baglafecht
Speke's Weaver
Ploceus spekei
Vitelline Masked-Weaver
Ploceus vitellinus
Lesser Masked-Weaver
Ploceus intermedius
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes axillaris
Speckle-fronted Weaver
Sporopipes frontalis
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
Bubalornis niger
Red Bishop
Euplectes orix
Black Bishop
Euplectes gierowii
Red-collared Widowbird
Euplectes ardens
Yellow-rumped Widowbird
Euplectes capensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Akagera National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 3 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 4 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 5 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 6 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 7 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 9 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 10 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 11 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 12 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 13 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 14 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 15 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 16 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 17 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 18 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 19 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 20 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 21 | Nyungwe National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 22 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Cardinal Quelea in Ngorongoro Conservation Area?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Cardinal Quelea sighting in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, based on 61 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cardinal Quelea in Ngorongoro Conservation Area?
April has the highest sighting rate for Cardinal Quelea in Ngorongoro Conservation Area in our monthly data.