True weaver
True weavers are a distinctive group of birds belonging to the subfamily within the weaver family, primarily found in the savannas and forests of Africa and its nearby islands, with some species extending into parts of Asia, including Indonesia, China, India, and Arabia. Characterized by their vibrant plumage—often bright yellow or red—true weavers exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females typically resembling duller-colored sparrows. These stout birds are adept nest builders, creating elaborate, dome-shaped nests that hang from branches or globe-like nests in low vegetation. Nests are often strategically placed near water sources and can feature protective entrances formed by woven tunnels.
True weavers are primarily seed-eaters, with their diets supplemented by insects, and they typically nest in colonies, with certain species, like the village weaver, constructing multiple nests to attract females. Their reproductive behaviors are varied, ranging from solitary egg care to communal nesting practices. True weaver chicks fledge within a few weeks after hatching, and the birds communicate through loud chattering and chirping. While many true weavers live for 10 to 20 years, they face threats from predators and habitat loss due to human activities. The group encompasses numerous species, including the Baya weaver, village weaver, and red-billed quelea, each exhibiting unique behaviors and adaptations.
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True weaver
True weavers weave fancy domed nests that hang from branches or globe-like nests in the grass and low vegetation. Most species live in the savannas and forests of Africa and its neighboring islands. Some range into Asia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
The true weavers form one distinct division, a subfamily, within the family of weavers. Most true weavers have bright yellow or red plumage (feathering), while others have glossy black plumage. Females in many species look similar to sparrows and are duller-colored than the males. Members of most species are stout birds. Smaller true weavers are 4 1/2 inches (11 1/2 centimeters) long. The largest true weaver is the long-tailed widow bird, which grows nearly two feet (65 centimeters) long.
True weavers live mostly in the forests and savannas of Africa and on neighboring islands, but some species also inhabit these same habitats in Indonesia, China, India, and Arabia. All species forage for insects or seeds and other types of vegetation. Most have short but strong bills and are seed-eaters, while some of the forest-dwelling species have bills that are designed for eating fewer seeds but handle well the insects that are the bulk of their diet.
Most true weavers are tree-dwellers that weave fancy, durable nests suspended from branches. Nests are often at the tips of twigs or palm fronds and are commonly near water. The entrances to the nests are on the undersides and often are protected by woven tunnels as long as two feet (60 centimeters). Many true weavers nest closely together in large colonies that fill the tree tops. Males in some species, such as the village weaver, build more than one nest and attract a female to each one.
The remaining true weavers, the fodies and bishops, build globular, or globe-like, nests. Bishops place their nests among the grass or low vegetation, while fodies suspend their nests like others in the family. These birds are territorial and defend their nesting area in the grassy, flood plains of their habitats. Male yellow bishops may have several females in their territories and regularly patrol their boundaries while calling aggressively to warn other males not to trespass. Other species in this group, such as the red-billed quelea, are colonial nesters.
True weavers display many courtship habits and reproductive patterns. Some are solitary, only caring for their eggs, while other species may lay eggs in communal nests and incubate eggs together. Some pairs mate for life while others have several mates each season. Females lay two to four eggs. Each egg is up to one inch (25 centimeters) long and may have white, green, blue, or pink markings. In many species, the male and female incubate the eggs for 10 to 14 days, keeping them warm so they will hatch. The young learn to fly and leave the nest 11 to 21 days after hatching.
Natural predators include lizards, snakes, birds of prey, and crows. True weavers are also threatened by many animals introduced to their habitats and human development. The calls of true weavers are loud chatterings and various chirpings and twitterings.
The lifespans of true weavers vary between species, but many live for 10 to 20 years.
True weaver species include:
Baya weaver Ploceus philippinus
Crested malimbe Malimbus malimbicus
Donaldson Smith's sparrow-weaver Plocepasser donaldsoni
Golden-backed bishop Euplectes aureus
Golden palm weaver Ploceus bojeri
Grey-capped social weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi
Mauritius fody Foudia rubra
Thick-billed or grosbeak weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Red-billed buffalo weaver Bubalornis niger
Red-billed quelea Quelea quelea
Rufous-tailed weaver Histurgops ruficauda
Red weaver Anaplectes jubaensis
Sociable weaver Philetairus socius
Village weaver Ploceus cucullatus
White-headed buffalo weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
Yellow bishop Euplectes capensis
Bibliography
"Weaver Bird." A-Z Animals, 14 Mar. 2023, a-z-animals.com/animals/weaver-bird. Accessed 15 May 2024.
"Weavers." Carolina Birds, carolinabirds.org/HTML/Weaver.htm. Accessed 15 May 2024.
Winkler, D. W., et al. "Weavers and Allies (Ploceidae)." Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2020, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/plocei1/cur/introduction. Accessed 15 May 2024.