Jos Plateau indigobird

The Jos Plateau indigobird is a remarkable bird species from the Viduidae family, found exclusively in Nigeria. One of the most intriguing aspects of this bird is its distinctive breeding strategy. Instead of incubating its own eggs, the Jos Plateau indigobird lays them in the nests of rock firefinches, another bird species native to Nigeria. To avoid detection by the host birds, the indigobird removes an equal number of rock firefinch eggs from the nest.

Once the indigobird chicks hatch, they often outcompete the rock firefinch hatchlings. Though these birds breed year-round, their breeding activity peaks during the Harmattan period, which spans from July to December.

Jos Plateau indigobirds thrive in dry woodlands and shrublands, particularly in rocky areas. However, their habitat is increasingly under threat due to ongoing habitat destruction.