
Yellow Bishop
The yellow bishop, Cape bishop, Cape widow or yellow-rumped widow (Euplectes capensis) is a resident breeding bird species in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Species insights
Most records Sep to Oct
When Yellow Bishop sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Curve from 2,040 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Western Cape
Provinces where Yellow Bishop is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,040 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Yellow Bishop
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,120 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 8,380 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Boomslang · Bushbuck
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust and 1 other
From R 1,950 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,550 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Yellow Bishop recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Yellow Bishop
Hosts have recorded the Yellow Bishop at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Where to base yourself
- Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
- Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
- LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Ways to look
Species
Euplectes capensis
Records
2,040
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Yellow Bishop on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Yellow Bishop in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Yellow Bishop at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Yellow Bishop in South Africa?
The Yellow Bishop is most recorded in Western Cape (89% of records), based on 2,040 iNaturalist observations. 76 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Yellow Bishop on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Yellow Bishop?
Sightings of the Yellow Bishop peak from Sep to Oct, based on 2,040 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Yellow Bishop?
The yellow bishop, Cape bishop, Cape widow or yellow-rumped widow (Euplectes capensis) is a resident breeding bird species in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

































