Escaped Jewel

Southern California has a variety of introduced exotic birds that have established self sustaining wild populations, including Scaly-breasted Munias, Northern Red Bishops, Pin-tailed Whydahs, Egyptian Geese, and a variety of parrots in addition to the usual European introductions.  They are not known to be causing any ecological problems and make an interesting additions to the local avifauna.  The bird pictured above may be the first of a new population of exotics.  It's a male Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer), he turned up at a local wildlife refuge amongst the resident flock of Northern Red Bishops, probably as an escaped pet.  Recently, two females also turned up, are these escapees too, or is a hitherto overlooked population now starting to become evident?  Only time will tell.

When displaying he flew around all puffed up looking (and sounding) like a huge bumblebee!  It was very entertaining!  


Photo taken in Orange County, CA.