Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Weavers, Widowbirds

The Ploceidae family, comprising small passerine birds known commonly as weavers or weaverbirds, are recognized for their skill in creating elaborate nests woven from vegetation. Introduced by Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1836, this family's taxonomy has been refined by recent molecular studies, which show that the traditional genus Ploceus is polyphyletic. The family consists of 15 genera and 126 species, most of which are native to sub-Saharan Africa, with a few in tropical Asia; some species have been introduced elsewhere. Male weavers are typically brightly colored, especially in red or yellow and black, sometimes changing colors during the breeding season. These birds, which mainly feed on seeds, favor habitats close to water bodies and often build their nests in colonies. The intricacies of their nests, varying in size, shape, and material, showcase their advanced nest-building abilities. For example, sociable weavers construct large communal nests with separate chambers, whereas sparrow weavers live in smaller family groups that practice cooperative breeding. Weaverbirds are usually gregarious and breed colonially, with males weaving intricate nests to attract females. Although they are an interesting study for ornithologists, some species like the red-billed quelea can become agricultural pests, leading to significant crop damage.

Regions

Categories

A photo of a Black-winged Red Bishop (Euplectes hordeaceus) , male

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus
A photo of a Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis) , male

Cape Weaver

Ploceus capensis

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Dark-backed Weaver

Ploceus bicolor
A photo of a Eastern Golden Weaver (Ploceus subaureus) , male

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus
A photo of a Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) , male

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris
A photo of a Holub's Golden Weaver (Ploceus xanthops) , male

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops
A photo of a Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius) , male

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius
A photo of a Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) , male

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

Olive-headed Weaver

Ploceus olivaceiceps
A photo of a Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger) , male

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger
A photo of a Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) , male

Red-billed Quelea

Quelea quelea
A photo of a Red-collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens) , male

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Red-headed Quelea

Quelea erythrops
A photo of a Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) , male

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps
A photo of a Scaly-feathered Weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons)

Scaly-feathered Weaver

Sporopipes squamifrons
A photo of a Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius)

Sociable Weaver

Philetairus socius

Southern Brown-throated Weaver

Ploceus xanthopterus
A photo of a Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) , male

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus
A photo of a Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) , male

Southern Red Bishop

Euplectes orix
A photo of a Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis) , male

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis
A photo of a Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) , male

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons
A photo of a Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) , male

Village Weaver

Ploceus cucullatus
A photo of a White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali)

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali
A photo of a White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) , male

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus
A photo of a Yellow Bishop (Euplectes capensis) , male

Yellow Bishop

Euplectes capensis
A photo of a Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) , male

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Euplectes afer

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
1
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Species Categories

African & Green BroadbillsAfrican & New World ParrotsAfrican BarbetsAlbatrossesAnhingas, DartersAustral Storm PetrelsBarn OwlsBee-eatersBulbulsBuntingsBushshrikesBustardsButtonquailCaracaras, FalconsChats, Old World FlycatchersCisticolas & AlliesCormorants, ShagsCoursers, PratincolesCrab-ploverCranesCrombecs, African WarblersCrows, JaysCuckoosCuckooshrikesDrongosDucks, Geese, SwansFairy FlycatchersFigbirds, Orioles, TurnagraFinches, EuphoniasFinfootsFlamingosFlufftailsFrigatebirdsGannets, BoobiesGrassbirds & AlliesGrebesGround HornbillsGuineafowlGulls, Terns, SkimmersHamerkopHerons, BitternsHoneyguidesHoopoesHornbillsHyliotasIbises, SpoonbillsIndigobirds, WhydahsJacanasKingfishersKites, Hawks, EaglesLarksLaughingthrushes & AlliesLeaf Warblers & AlliesMonarchsMousebirdsNicatorsNightjarsNorthern Storm PetrelsOld World ParrotsOld World Sparrows, SnowfinchesOspreysOstrichesOwlsOxpeckersOystercatchersPainted-snipesPelicansPenduline TitsPenguinsPetrels, Shearwaters, Diving PetrelsPheasants & AlliesPigeons, DovesPittasPloversRails, Crakes & CootsReed Warblers & AlliesRockjumpersRollersSandgrouseSandpipers, SnipesSecretarybirdSheathbillsShrikesSkuasStarlings, RhabdornisStilts, AvocetsStone-curlews, Thick-kneesStorksSugarbirdsSunbirdsSwallows, MartinsSwiftsSylviid BabblersThrushesTits, ChickadeesTreecreepersTrogonsTropicbirdsTuracosVangas & AlliesWagtails, PipitsWattle-eyes, BatisesWaxbills, Munias & AlliesWeavers, WidowbirdsWhite-eyesWood HoopoesWoodpeckersYellow Flycatchers

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Emcil24
A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.