Weavers - Basket Cases

Weavers (Ploceinae) are members of the finch tribe. Most species are seed-eaters with short conical bills, but some are insectivorous with dagger-like bills. Almost all members of the family have bright yellow plumage, with males acquiring strong black facial patterns in the breeding season. A few species have red plumage and some are entirely black. They are not in the least musical, but their harsh rasping notes are characteristic of many habitats, including suburban gardens.

Start with a Ring

 Needless to say, weavers are named for their ability to weave. Males use green grass, strips of palm leaves, or other pliable vegetation to create basket-shaped nests which are typically situated from a hanging branch. The male first establishes a territory and selects a specific nest site. He then weaves a simple ring which serves as the perch for the rest of the nest. The roof is built first and he works downward to finish with a ‘spout' or long tubular entrance. Experiments have shown that weavers become better with practice and few birds breed until they are two years of age.

Impressing Females

Once a male has completed a nest he displays at its entrance in a bid to impress a female. With several males usually competing for attention, she can afford to be fussy and will choose only the strongest and best situated nest. Those males which continually fail to attract mates will tear their handiwork down to start again. Generally speaking, seed-eating weavers tend to be gregarious and breed colonially, while insectivorous weavers form pairs which nest solitarily.

Risks

Instead of hiding their nests, weavers place them in highly conspicuous but out-of-reach locations. Care is often taken to strip vegetation from supporting branches or fronds, in order that predatory snakes are easily seen and mobbed. Even so, many nests are raided by snakes. One bird which shows little regard to the defence of weavers, is the hawk-like Gymnogene which rips open the woven structures to eat nestlings. Perhaps the biggest threat to breeding weavers is the parasitic Diderik Cuckoo which lays its own eggs in the basket nests. These furtive and cunning birds leave the job of parenting to their weaver hosts.

andBEYOND's Weaver Hotspots

A variety of weavers can be seen around every andBEYOND lodge, but the best time for viewing these birds in southern Africa is between September and March when they are in their bright breeding plumage.

Posted: Birds by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006