This whydah lives in dry savanna and bushy habitats in eastern Africa. Breeding males grow extremely long central tail feathers and search the ground for grass seeds.
The breeding male is glossy blue-black and has two pairs of greatly elongated central tail feathers. A small white flank patch is usually concealed, and white underwing feathers form a broad band in flight. The female is brown and streaked, with a pale eyebrow.
It uses dry savanna and bushy habitats below 1,400 m. On the ground it feeds on small grass seeds, rapidly kicking aside topsoil with alternate feet before hopping back to peck. It is a brood parasite that lays eggs in other birds' nests.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.