Village weaver
Ploceus cucullatus
-0.446315, 36.2274
Field Notes
Description:
Large weaver, member of family Ploceidae, growing over 15cm in length. The breeding male (Pics no 1 & 2) is golden yellow with extensive black face mask, heavy black beak and red eyes, three characteristics helping the identification since all subspecies or forms posses the same. It further shows a well-distinguished yellow and dark olive green pattern on its back and wing covers. Female (pic No 3), like all females of this family, is more discreet, but can be recognized by red eyes and heavy bill, and yellow superciliary stripes.
Habitat:
Widely spread across sub-saharan Africa, in all kind of habitats, including urban settings. Seen here on shores of soda lake Elementaita in central Kenya, in mixed flock roaming around the hotel.
In the same flock I noticed Kenyan rufous and House sparrows, Speke's weaver, Cordonbleu and mannikins.
Notes:
The Village weaver is gregarious and nest in large colonies; when nesting the colony is capable of covering the entire tree or group of group of trees with densely packed nests, like in that fourth photo - with all my apologizes, that photo is from one of previous trips (Liberia, 2007-09), and I joined it here in order to illustrate the nesting habits of this species...
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