Taveta Golden Weaver

ORDER: Passeriformes

FAMILY: Ploceidae

GENUS: Ploceus

SPECIES: castaneiceps

DESCRIPTION:

Male: Bright golden yellow but duller on the back, occipit is chestnut extending in a narrow circle behind the ear coverts to the lower neck; bill black. Unlike most weavers there is no non-breeding plumage. Female: Olivaceous above with dusky streaks; bill horn-colored.

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:

Coastal east Africa from southeastern Kenya to eastern Tanzania. Prefers swampy vegetation such as bulrushes.

DIET:

Mostly seeds, but females will feed live food to chicks.

LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:

A common gregarious noisy species often found in association with other weavers. Males build oval unlined nests of green grass over water attached to several stems of reeds or grass or to low vegetation in the hopes of attracting a female. Lays two or three glossy dark olive green eggs.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:

Strong claws and bills enable these birds to weave their elaborate nests.

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION::

These birds make nests which are truly woven on the warp and woof principle. They tend to breed in colonies and their nests sometimes fill entire trees. Though called songbirds, the sounds they utter do not please human ears. Most weavers live in Africa though there are a few Asian species. Weavers are closely related to sparrows.

OUR ANIMALS:

2 Males. 9 Females.

STATUS IN THE WILD:

Not endangered.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Grizmek, Bernhard (ed.). 1973. Grizmek's Animal Encyclopedia, Vol. 3. New York, Van Norstrand.
2. Mackworth-Praed, C.W. and C.H.B. Grant. 1957. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa, Series 1, Vol. 2. London, Longmans Green.
3. Restall, Robin L. Finches and Other Seed-Eating Birds. 1975. London, Faber & Faber.
4. Wilkinson, Roger and Wayne McLeod. 1994. "Breeding the White-Headed (Böhm's) Buffalo Weaver and the Taveta Golden Weaver at Chester Zoo" in Avicultural Magazine, Vol. 100, No.1.