About the Village Weaver
The village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver (the latter leading to easy confusion with P. melanocephalus), is a bird species in the family Ploceidae found in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been introduced to Portugal and Venezuela as well as to the islands of Hispaniola, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Mauritius and Réunion. This often abundant species occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, including woodlands and human habitation, and frequently forms large noisy colonies in towns, villages, and hotel grounds. This weaver builds a large coarsely woven nest made of grass and leaf strips with a downward-facing entrance, which is suspended from a branch in a tree. Two or three eggs are laid.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Ploceus cucullatus
- Family
- Weavers and Allies
- Order
- Passeriformes
Similar species
Other members of the weavers and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
- Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
- Golden Palm Weaver Ploceus bojeri
- Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus
- Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis
- Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
- Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens
- Southern Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus
- Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
- Taveta Golden-Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
- Vitelline Masked-Weaver Ploceus vitellinus
- White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Know when the Village Weaver turns up near you
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Optics
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