Thank you. They sometimes cause crop damage, notably the red-billed quelea, reputed to be the world's most numerous bird. & Keith, S. (2004) The birds of Africa vol. [1] All birds of the Ploceidae are native to the Old World, most in Africa south of the Sahara, though a few live in tropical areas of Asia. These names come from the nests of intricately woven vegetation created by birds in this family. Ploceidae is a family of small passerine birds, many of which are called weavers, weaverbirds, weaver finches and bishops. [8][9], A nest in the early stages of construction, Adult Sporopipes at its spherical grass nest, placed in a shrub, Plocepasser nest in Namibia, for year-round occupation. The birds that weave magical nests The Oldie Magazine | May 2020 We had already spent an entrancing hour birding on Tanzania’s Lake Manze – imperious, white-chested fish eagles soaring overhead; glossy, blue, wire tailed swallows flitting over the water; stately … Within their range, they sometimes cause crop damage and are, therefore, considered agricultural pests. Resplendent Quetzals - The Rare Jewel Birds of the World. The parrots that build "bird condominiums" : The, The record holder for speaking most words: the common. VII. Weavers get their name because of their elaborately woven nests. Usually the male birds weave the nests and use them as a form of display to lure prospective females. Most species weave nests that have narrow entrances, facing downward. The family is believed to have originated in the mid-Miocene. Terms Of Use / Copyright Restrictions, Site Privacy Policy | Report Abuse | Website Administrator | Web Design by Drupal Development Services. Please note: Any content published on this site is commentary or opinion, and is protected under Free Speech. [3][4] These species are not closely related to the sparrows (Passeridae) nor to the Emberizidae, according to Luis Allende and colleagues. 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 spherical woven nests within. The males of many species in this family are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black. Please contact them directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. Although weavers are named for their elaborately woven nests, some are notable for their selective parasitic nesting habits instead. The Weavers have strong, rounded, conical bills. A few species have been introduced outside their native range.[2]. These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. In most recent classifications, Ploceidae is a clade, which excludes some birds that have historically been placed in the family, such as some of the sparrows, but which includes the monotypic subfamily Amblyospizinae. [7] Please Note: The articles or images on this page are the sole property of the authors or photographers. The plumage of the males is brightly colored, usually in red or yellow and black. Many species weave very fine nests using thin strands of leaf fiber, and some like the buffalo-weavers, however, form massive untidy stick nests in their colonies, which may have several spherical woven nests within. Most species weave nests that have narrow entrances, facing downward. The weaverbird colonies may be found close to bodies of water. Ploceidae is a family of small passerine birds, many of which are called weavers, weaverbirds, weaver finches and bishops.These names come from the nests of intricately woven vegetation created by birds in this family. They are named for their elaborately woven nests (the most elaborate of any birds). The family is divided into the buffalo, sparrow, typical, and widow weavers. Most species weave nests that have narrow entrances, facing upside down. The sparrow weavers, for example, build apartment-house nests, in which 100 to 300 pairs have separate flask-shaped chambers entered by tubes at the bottom. professional advice. Some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. The malesbuild their nests together, often several to a branch. Usually the male birds weave the nests and use them as a form of display to lure prospective females. Crows: The birds that go fishing with breadcrumbs! It is only provided for educational and entertainment purposes, and is in no way intended as a substitute for Some species show variation in color only in the breeding season. Weaver birds typically breed in bird colonies that are typically found close to water bodies. [2] The birds build their nests together for protection, often several to a branch. The sparrow weavers live in family units that employ cooperative breeding. [7], Communal Philetairus nests in central Namibia, Pseudonigrita nest in Kenya, with entrance below, Black-breasted weaver nest suspended from grass, India, A baya weaver on his unfinished nest, northern India, Nests of a baya weaver colony suspended from a palm tree, India, Male Quelea at nest concealed in thorny Senegalia shrub, Red bishop constructing a nest in reeds, South Africa, Nests of a colony of Sakalava weavers, Madagascar, Spherical village weaver nests suspended from a palm tree, West Africa, A southern masked weaver building his nest, Namibia. For more detail, see list of Ploceidae species. The sparrow weavers, for example, build apartment-house nests, in which 100 to 300 pairs have separate flask-shaped chambers entered by tubes at the bottom. Depending on the…. The family Ploceidae was introduced (as Ploceïdes) by the Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1836. Christopher Helm, London, "An extensive molecular phylogeny of weaverbirds (Aves: Ploceidae) unveils broad nonmonophyly of traditional genera and new relationships", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ploceidae&oldid=980613231, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 September 2020, at 13:35. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); © 2011 beautyofbirds.com - All Rights Reserved. The Smallest Bird on Earth Weighs Less than a Penny! A few species exist in tropical Asia and in Australia. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf-fibers, grass and twigs. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf-fibers, grass, and twigs. Most occur naturally in, sub-Saharan Africa. The sociable weavers of Africa build apartment-house nests, in which 100 to 300 pairs have separate flask-shaped chambers entered by tubes at the bottom. Fry, C.H. Male weavers buildelaborately woven nests that vary in size, shape, material used and construction techniques from species to species. Hanging nest, Hargeysa, Somaliland, July 2019. The nests vary in size, shape, material used, and construction techniques from species to species.