#646: Red Fody

I always feel it's cheating a little bit to use an animal that can be alphabetised based on an adjective, but I missed this fellow for "F" and I need more Rs, so here he is.

The Red Fody is a small weaver bird native to Madagascar. His range encompasses much of the island and he is at home in forest clearings, grasslands and cultivated areas - where he has become a serious pest on rice crops. His diet consists mainly of seeds, nectar and insects. During breeding season he replaces his olive-green plumage with a vibrant orange or red and forms a monogamous partnership. He weaves a somewhat primitive nest  from grass strips, with a side entrance tunnel near the top. His mate then lines it. The pair are able to raise two broods in a season.