Sexually dimorpic, finch-like birds. Breeding males have boldly patterned plumage with long tails. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles are non-descript and difficult to identify. They are often gregarious and they can be nomadic in the dry season.
They feed primarily on seeds that are collected on the ground. They are unique in scratching backward with both feet together, and hopping backward to get to exposed seeds. In summer, they will also eat termites.
They are polygynous (the male having more than one female mate at a time) and brood-[arasitic, they lay their eggs in the nests of waxbills, each whydah species targets a specific waxbill host and their eggs match those of the host species. They do not eject hosts eggs or host chicks.

Vidua = widow

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