Weaver Totally Explained

Everything about Weaver totally explained

ť For other meanings, see Weaver (disambiguation).
The Weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches.
   These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which breed in sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia and also in Australia. The weaver group is divided into the buffalo, sparrow, typical, and widow weavers. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.
   Weaver birds, also known as weaver finches, get their name because of their elaborately woven nests (the most elaborate of any birds'), though some are notable for their selective parasitic nesting habits. The nests vary in size, shape, material used, and construction techniques from species to species. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf-fibers, grass, and twigs. Many species weave very fine nests using thin strands of leaf fiber, though some, like the buffalo-weavers, form massive untidy stick nests in their colonies, which may have several spherical woven nests within. The sparrow weavers of Africa build apartment-house nests, in which 100 to 300 pairs have separate flask-shaped chambers entered by tubes at the bottom. Most species weave nests that have narrow entrances, facing downward.
   The weavers are gregarious birds which often breed colonially. The birds build their nests together,(this gives them more protection) often several to a branch. Usually the male birds weave the nests and use them as a form of display to lure prospective females. The weaver bird colonies may be found close to water bodies. They sometimes cause crop damage, notably the Red-billed Quelea, reputed to be the world's most numerous bird.

Species list in taxonomic order

Genus Bubalornis
- White-billed Buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
- Red-billed Buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis niger

Genus Dinemellia

White-headed Buffalo-weaver, Dinemellia dinemelli

Genus Sporopipes

Speckle-fronted Weaver, Sporopipes frontalis
Scaly Weaver, Sporopipes squamifrons

Genus Plocepasser

White-browed Sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser mahali
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser superciliosus
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser rufoscapulatus
Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser donaldsoni

Genus Histurgops

Rufous-tailed Weaver, Histurgops ruficauda

Genus Pseudonigrita

Grey-headed Social-weaver, Pseudonigrita arnaudi
Black-capped Social-weaver, Pseudonigrita cabanisi

Genus Philetairus

Social Weaver, Philetairus socius

Genus Ploceus (c.60 species)

Genus Pachyphantes

Compact Weaver, Pachyphantes superciliosus

Genus Malimbus

Yellow-legged Malimbe, Malimbus flavipes
Red-crowned Malimbe, Malimbus coronatus
Black-throated Malimbe, Malimbus cassini
Ballmann's Malimbe, Malimbus ballmanni
Rachel's Malimbe, Malimbus racheliae
Red-vented Malimbe, Malimbus scutatus
Ibadan Malimbe, Malimbus ibadanensis
Red-bellied Malimbe, Malimbus erythrogaster
Gray's Malimbe, Malimbus nitens
Crested Malimbe, Malimbus malimbicus
Red-headed Malimbe, Malimbus rubricollis

Genus Anaplectes

Red-headed Weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps

Genus Brachycope

Bob-tailed Weaver, Brachycope anomala

Genus Quelea

Cardinal Quelea, Quelea cardinalis
Red-headed Quelea, Quelea erythrops
Red-billed Quelea, Quelea quelea

Genus Foudia

Red Fody, Foudia madagascariensis
Red-headed Fody, Foudia eminentissima
Forest Fody, Foudia omissa
Mauritius Fody, Foudia rubra
Seychelles Fody, Foudia sechellarum
Rodrigues Fody, Foudia flavicans

Genus Euplectes

Yellow-crowned Bishop, Euplectes afer
Fire-fronted Bishop, Euplectes diadematus
Black Bishop, Euplectes gierowii
Black-winged Red Bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
Northern Red Bishop or Orange Bishop, Euplectes franciscanus
Southern Red Bishop or Red Bishop, Euplectes orix
Zanzibar Bishop, Euplectes nigroventris
Golden-backed Bishop, Euplectes aureus
Yellow Bishop, Euplectes capensis
Fan-tailed Widowbird, Euplectes axillaris
Yellow-shouldered Widowbird, Euplectes macroura
White-winged Widowbird, Euplectes albonotatus
Red-collared Widowbird, Euplectes ardens
Marsh Widowbird, Euplectes hartlaubi
Buff-shouldered Widowbird, Euplectes psammocromius
Long-tailed Widowbird, Euplectes progne
Jackson's Widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni

Genus Anomalospiza

Cuckoo Finch or Parasitic Weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis - probably belongs in Viduidae

Genus Amblyospiza

Grosbeak Weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons

Weaver nests at Kotaballappalli, Karnataka, India

Image:BayaWeaverPair1.jpg Image:BayaWeaverAtWork1.jpg Image:BayaOnDisplay.jpg Image:BayasNoColours.jpg

Further Information

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