We met some of the weaver species in South Africa. They were mostly yellow birds with varying amounts of black on the head and face. In Uganda I found more species and some were quite different than the previous ones.
The 4.5" Speckle-fronted Weaver (Sporopipes frontalis) is a brown and gray sparrow like bird with an ochre nape and black forehead.
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| Speckle-fronted Weaver |
The 5" male Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) had a black head and chestnut belly. He resembles our Baltimore Oriole.
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| Black-headed Weaver - pair |
The 5" male Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni) is similar but the whole underside is a dark chestnut color.
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| Golden-backed Weaver - male |
The 4" male Little Weaver (Ploceus luteolus) is yellow with a black face and thick bill.
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| Little Weaver - male |
A similar 4.5" weaver is the male Slender-billed Weaver (Ploceus pelzelni).He has a smaller amount of black on the face
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| Slender-billed Weaver - male |
The 6.5" male Village Weaver (Ploceus culcullatus) is yellow with a black face and streaked back.. He also has a bright red eye!
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| Village Weaver - male |
The 6" male Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus bagalecht) has a black face and light eye.
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| Baglafecht Weaver |
So now that you can easily identify a weaver by the yellow body and black head or face, God shows his sense of humor with the 5.5" male Black-billed Weaver (Ploceus melanogaster). He is all black with a yellow face!
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| Black-billed Weaver |
And even stranger is Vieillot's Black Weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus). He is all black with a yellow eye.
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| Vieillot's Black Weaver |
I have photos of 27 of the 117 species of weavers.
Happy birding and photography,
dkmmdpa@gmail.com
photos copyright 2006 - 2020 David McDonald
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