Quelea (Red-Billed Quelea)
Quelea quelea
high risk
bird
Overview
The most abundant wild bird on Earth and the most destructive avian pest to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Breeding colonies can contain 10 million individuals and foraging flocks strip grain fields completely. Annual crop losses across Africa are estimated at USD $50 million.
Small finch-like bird, 12 cm. Breeding male has red bill, variable facial mask (black, pink, or white), pinkish-buff underparts. Female and non-breeding male are dull streaked brown with red or yellow bill. Flocks in flight resemble a moving cloud or 'locust storm'.
Prevention Strategies
- •Bird-scaring with noise makers, effigies, and human guarding
- •Physical netting over small plots
- •Grow early-maturing or tight-panicle sorghum varieties less susceptible to damage
- •Early warning systems using satellite-tracked colony locations
- •Time harvesting to minimise window of vulnerability
Control Methods
- •Aerial spraying of fenthion or parathion over roosting colonies (highly controversial, kills non-target species)
- •Nest and egg destruction at large breeding colonies before hatching
- •Hazing using pyrotechnics and distress calls to move flocks away from crops
- •Community-organised guarding during the grain fill window
Interesting Facts
- •The quelea population of 1.5 billion exceeds the combined human population of Africa
- •A single 10-million bird colony produces enough droppings in one night to visibly change soil chemistry beneath the roost
- •They are sometimes called 'feathered locusts' — behaviour and impact closely parallel Desert Locust plagues
- •Males build complete nests before pairing — females reject poorly built nests