Introduction: Purple Indigo birds (Vidua purpurascens) inhabit riverine forests and dry woodland. Habits include hopping around the ground and roosting with mixed species in regions with dense trees.
Distribution: Isolated recordings along the Kunene and Kavango Rivers. Also observed in Mahango National Park and Bwabwata National Park.
Diet: Eats grass seeds such as from swamp grass, collecting hundreds of them before de-husking the grass seeds individually.
Description: A predominately black head and body with a bluish-purple wash. Blackish-brown flight feathers and tail. Purpurascens refers to the glossy plumage.
Breeding: Females lay sets of 3 to 4 eggs in the nest of the Jameson's firefinch in April.
Size: 11cm.
Weight: 13g.