Village weaver

Village weaver
Male, Kakum National Park, Ghana
Female, Gambia
Both P. c. cucullatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Ploceus
Species:
P. cucullatus
Binomial name
Ploceus cucullatus
(Müller, 1776)
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms[2]
  • Oriolus cucullatus Müller, 1776

The village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver (the latter leading to easy confusion with P. melanocephalus), is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae found in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been introduced to Portugal and Venezuela as well as to the islands of Hispaniola, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Mauritius and Réunion.[1]

This often abundant species occurs in a wide range of open or semiopen habitats, including woodlands and human habitation, and frequently forms large noisy colonies in towns, villages, and hotel grounds. This weaver builds a large coarsely woven nest made of grass and leaf strips with a downward-facing entrance, which is suspended from a branch in a tree. Two or three eggs are laid. Village weavers are colonial breeders, so many nests may hang from one tree.

Village weavers feed principally on seeds and grain, and can be a crop pest, but readily take insects, especially when feeding young, which partially redresses the damage to agriculture. The calls of this bird include harsh buzzes and chattering.

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International. (2018). "Ploceus cucullatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22718921A132122615. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22718921A132122615.en. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Ploceus cucullatus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 February 2022.