| Abstract: | We characterized 11 microsatellite primer pairs for the village indigobird Vidua chalybeata. The loci were highly polymorphic, with 7–13 alleles per locus. Gene diversity, estimated as expected heterozygosity, ranged from 0.52 to 0.86, and was generally matched by levels of observed heterozygosity (0.49–0.91). Many of these primer pairs amplified polymorphic loci in cross‐species amplification trials with a variety of estrildid and ploceid finches and a sparrow, Passer griseus. These primers will be valuable for genetic analyses of the brood parasitic indigobirds and whydahs (genus Vidua) as well as other Old World finches. |
