Red-headed Weaver

The Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) is a striking bird, a member of the Ploceidae family, known for its vividly colored plumage and intricate nests. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Anaplectes, gracing the Afrotropics with its presence.

Identification Tips

Males of the northern populations boast a brilliant red head, a feature that is particularly conspicuous and serves as a beacon to females. In contrast, northern females exhibit a more subdued brown head, while their southern counterparts are adorned with yellow heads and matching yellow accents on their wings. All individuals possess a moderately long and pointed beak, complemented by short, robust claws.

Habitat

These weavers are denizens of savannas, bushland, and various wooded areas, demonstrating a preference for environments that offer both open spaces and tree cover.

Distribution

The Red-headed Weaver is commonly found across eastern and southern Africa, with its range extending from Zambia and Zimbabwe to the majority of Mozambique and Botswana.

Behaviour

A typical flock is led by a single male who is accompanied by a group of eight or nine females. These birds are adept foragers, often seen alone or in pairs, meticulously searching for insects on leaves and branches. They exhibit a unique foraging behavior, hanging upside-down to pry open clusters of dead leaves with their bills or to probe bark crevices for hidden insects. They also catch flying insects like termites and moths, which they deftly beat against a surface to remove the wings before consumption.

Breeding

The Red-headed Weaver constructs its nest from dry sticks, fashioning a raindrop-shaped structure that is typically suspended from a tree. Some may choose to build their nests in man-made structures. A notable characteristic of their nests is the long entrance tunnel, a feature more commonly associated with the Malimbus genus.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet is primarily insectivorous, including bugs, beetles, mantids, and termites. Spiders and tiny snails are also on the menu, particularly for feeding chicks. They do not shy away from plant material, such as acacia seeds, Premna fruit, and berries from various mistletoes. Nectar from flowers of plants like Bombax costatum, Vitellaria paradoxa, and Carissa edulis also constitutes part of their diet. On rare occasions, they have been observed feeding on drying meat left in the open air.

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies of the Red-headed Weaver, differentiated by belly color, the coloration on the edges of the primaries, and the presence or absence of a black mask. The subspecies are as follows:

• A. r. leuconotos, found from West Africa to northern Malawi
• A. r. rubriceps, residing in Southern Africa

Conservation status

The Red-headed Weaver is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population trend and a distribution that is concentrated rather than fragmented.