- Origin: Madagascar
- Class: Birds
- Order: Passériformes
- Family: Ploceidés
A sparrow-like weaver, the Red Fody is endemic to Madagascar. However, it has been introduced to several islands in the Indian Ocean, including Réunion, Mauritius and the Seychelles. It is found in sparsely wooded areas such as savannahs and fields, but also in forests. It has a mixed diet, feeding on seeds and insects, caterpillars and spiders, and sometimes on the nectar of certain flowers. Males are dull brown in colour, turning vermilion-red during the breeding season.
Its ball-shaped nest hangs high up in the branches of trees and is built from interwoven strands of large leaves. The female lays 2 to 4 pale blue eggs in the nest.
IUCN Status : least concern (Appendix III)