Fan-tailed widow bird (Euplectes axillaris) males show black feathers with orange chevron shapes on their wings, during breeding season, when they can breed with up to four females. The yellow-shouldered widow bird (Euplectes macrourus) has bright yellow shoulder marks, sometimes forming a mantle on its back, while females are smaller and tan.
While in most species of widow birds, males are the responsible for building the nest, red-collared widow birds (Euplectes ardens) males leave this task to the females. Males of this species contain high levels of carotenoid pigments, which produce bright red shoulder markings. The color intensity of wings and shoulder markings is a signal of status and dominance among different species of widow birds. Males of white-winged widow birds (Euplectes albonotatus) have white and yellow wing markings during the mating season. As in other species of widow birds, females lay eggs from October to May.
Females of long-tailed widow bird (Euplectes progne) are back and yellow and, unlike other species, also can show very small red patterns on their wings. They lay one to four eggs, which are incubated for about two weeks. Although chicks leave the nest after 18 days, they are still dependent on the female for food for another two weeks. Males of long-tailed widow bird have bright red and white wing markings, and very long tails during the mating season. Like other species, marsh widow birds (Euplectes hartlaubi) feed mostly on insect and seeds.
Buff-shouldered widow bird (Euplectes psammocromius) have yellow and white wings and long tails to attract the females. Both males and females of Jackson's widow bird (Euplectes jacksoni) have pink beaks and feet. In addition to showing bright yellow to red patterns contrasting with the black plumage, males perform an elaborated dance to attract females during mating season.