weaver, any of a number of small finchlike birds of the Old World, or any of several related birds that are noted for their nest-building techniques using grass stems and other plant fibres. They are particularly well-known for their roofed nests, which in some African species form complex, hanging woven chambers. Many species of weavers are highly gregarious.
In the true weaver family, Ploceidae (order Passeriformes), are the 57 species of the genus Ploceus, which are often divided under group names, such as masked weavers and golden weavers. All are small insectivores that breed colonially; most inhabit hot, dry country. The breeding male ploceine typically has bright yellow markings, is polygynous, and makes a nest that resembles an upside-down flask, with a bottom entrance, which may be a sort of tube. He attracts females by hanging upside down from the nest while calling and fluttering his wings. A familiar ploceine species in Africa is the village weaver (Ploceus, formerly Textor, cucullatus). The baya weaver (P. philippinus) is abundant from Pakistan to Sumatra.
The giant communal nest of the social weavers (Philetairus socius) of southwestern Africa often reaches a height of 10 feet (3 metres); the nest is usually situated in a large acacia tree and may contain more than 100 separate nest chambers, with openings at the nest’s bottom. Cassin’s weaver (Malimbus cassini) of the lowland rain forests of central Africa builds a hanging nest of long palm-leaf strips that has a wide entrance extending down more than two feet. The red-billed weaver, or quelea (Quelea quelea), of the African savannas can sometimes become an agricultural pest; it has been reported nesting in colonies covering several square miles of trees and harbouring millions of birds. Bishop birds (Euplectes) weave nests with a side entrance, generally in wet grassy areas. (See bishop.) Whydahs (Vidua) are social parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other species of weavers, which then raise the whydahs’ young.
Other birds of the family Ploceidae, subfamily Passerinae, are called social weaver. Birds called the buffalo weaver comprise another ploceid subfamily, Bubalornithinae. For the hooded weaver, an estrildid, see mannikin.
Description edit
Many species in this family have colorful males, typically in red, yellow, and black. Certain species only exhibit color variation during the breeding season. These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills.
Taxonomy and systematics edit
Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall introduced the Ploceidae family (as Ploceïdes) in 1836. According to phylogenetic analyses, the family is sister to a clade that includes the families Viduidae and Estrildidae[5]. They shared an 18 million-year-old common ancestor during the middle Miocene. [6].
According to a broad study by the same group published in 2019 and a molecular phylogenetic study conducted by Thilina de Silva and collaborators in 2017, the genus Ploceus as it is currently defined is polyphyletic. [7][8] A cladogram based on these results is shown below. [8].
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The 57 species of the genus Ploceus belong to the true weaver family, Ploceidae (order Passeriformes), and are frequently grouped together under names like masked weavers and golden weavers. All are small, colonial insectivores, and the majority live in arid, hot climates. Usually bright yellow in color, the breeding male ploceine is polygynous and builds a nest that resembles an upside-down flask with a bottom entrance that could be a tube. He calls and flaps his wings while hanging upside down from the nest to entice females. Africans are familiar with the village weaver, or Ploceus (formerly Textor, cucullatus). The baya weaver (P. philippinus) is abundant from Pakistan to Sumatra.
Other Passerinae subfamily Ploceidae birds are referred to as social weaver birds. Birds called the buffalo weaver comprise another ploceid subfamily, Bubalornithinae. For the hooded weaver, an estrildid, see mannikin.
The social weavers (Philetairus socius) of southwestern Africa have a massive communal nest that can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) high. The nest is typically located in a large acacia tree and can have up to 100 distinct chambers with openings at the bottom. In the lowland rain forests of central Africa, the cassini weaver (Malimbus cassini) constructs a hanging nest made of long palm-leaf strips with a wide entrance that reaches down more than two feet. The African savanna’s red-billed weaver, or quelea (Quelea quelea), has been known to breed in colonies that span several square miles of trees and are home to millions of birds. However, in certain cases, it can become an agricultural pest. Bishop birds, or Eupletes, typically build their side-entry nests in moist grasslands. (See bishop. Social parasites called whydahs (Vidua) lay their eggs in the nests of other weaver species, which then raise the whydahs’ young.
weaver, any of several Old World small finch-like birds, or any of several related birds distinguished by their skill at creating nests out of grass stems and other plant fibers Their roofed nests, which in certain African species form intricate, hanging woven chambers, are what make them especially famous. Many species of weavers are highly gregarious.
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