Lesser Masked Weavers mostly eat insects, such as Coleoptera (beetles) m termite alates, ants and locusts (Orthoptera), gleaning them from the ground and foliage and catching termite alates in mid-air ("hawking"). In some areas, or for some species, owning one as a pet is illegal. Read on to learn about the Weaver. In other species, insects make up a more significant percentage. Some nests contain a single woven basket, while others have multiple chambers and passages. Eggs of the wrong colouration are ejected by the nest owners. Different Weaver species inhabit different types of ecosystems. The southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus), or African masked weaver, is a resident breeding bird species common throughout southern Africa. Diet The southern masked-weaver is omnivorous, mainly feeds on seeds, but will take arthropods and nectar when available. Unlock thousands of full-length species accounts and hundreds of bird family overviews when you subscribe to Birds of the World. Illustrations. Weavers vary drastically in color, shape, and size, and within the family, researchers recognize over a hundred different species! Breeding. Like most songbirds, Weavers are typically diurnal and active during the day. Some of the different habitats that these birds live in include grasslands, meadows, forests, rainforests, wetlands, swamps, mangroves, and riparian areas on the edges of streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. The southern masked weaver lays eggs of a various colour and this helps it to evade parasitisation by cuckoos because the cuckoo has no way of knowing what kind of eggs are inside the weaver's nest until it has entered the nest to attempt to lay one itself. It also occurs in suburban gardens and parks. Some species forage on the ground, others search for food in bushes and trees. Originally Appeared in . The male will have up to 12 breeding females in his territory. Many species of these birds suspend or hang their nests off of branches in a basket or orb shape. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. The Weaver comprises a group of birds that make up the Ploceidae family. However, some species actually benefit from human interaction by utilizing manmade structures and areas for nesting and foraging. Revision History; References. Photos. A female will line a selected nest with soft grass and feathers. Behaviour: Gregarious. Learn more about a few different species, and what makes them unique, below. Solitary or colonial. Some have solid colorations with just a single color, while others feature mottled plumage, or different colors on different parts of their bodies. Regardless of the species, the greatest threat to most populations is habitat destruction. Humans and Weavers interact in different ways based on the species. The number of eggs laid is based on the species, as is the incubation period and the fledging rate. No, Weavers usually do not make good pets. Some of their primary plant food sources include weed seeds, grains, nuts, nectar from flowers, and more. Diet: Insects, seeds, plant material and nectar. Many species are small, stout, and finch-like, but each is different from the next. Their name comes from the unique way that they build their nests. Subscribe Now For Access. For social species, living in flocks is entirely necessary. Watch this Southern Masked Weaver calling from a reed near his nest. Diet / Feeding. Though each species is different, all of them are wild birds. Their social behavior varies drastically, and some species are completely unknown to us. For other species, humans are the major danger. Insectivorous species eat a wide variety of invertebrates, like grasshoppers, locusts, spiders, flies, mosquitoes, and more. The juvenile of this species is like the female. These little birds take grasses, reeds, and other vegetation, and carefully weave them together to form their intricate nests. It eats insects, seeds and nectar, and will come to feeding tables. Weaver diet varies from species to species. Flock size ranges from a single pair to millions of birds. The vast majority of Weaver species live in Africa, though a few species also live in Asia. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Humans have not domesticated Weavers in any way. It also utters a sharp chuk alarm note. The throat is yellowish, fading to off-white on the belly. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_masked_weaver&oldid=989254944, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The non-breeding male resembles the female but retains the red eye. Others prefer living in dense rainforests high in the mountains. The female has a pinkish-brown bill, brown or red-brown eye and is dull greenish-yellow, streaked darker on the upper back. The percentage of insects in their diet increases during the breeding season, especially when feeding young. Researchers estimate that one Weaver species, the Red-Billed Quelea, is the most numerous wild bird species in the world. The adult male in breeding plumage has a black face, throat and beak, red eye, bright yellow head and underparts, and a plain yellowish-green back. Weavers vary drastically in color, shape, and size, and within the family, researchers recognize over a hundred different species! Call: Overall, large aviaries with a variety of trees, bushes, and shrubbery provide the birds with lots of space for exercise and exploration. Some do quite well, especially in large aviaries. Some species live across a wide expanse, while others live only in a small region. The nests, like those of other weavers, are woven from reed, palm or grass. This weaver is very widespread and found in a wide range of habitats, including shrubland, savanna, grassland, open woodland, inland wetlands and semi-desert areas. Some species, like the Red-Billed Quelea discussed above, impact humans in a negative fashion. Unfortunately, locals call this bird the “feathered locust,” because a single flock can decimate an entire farm of crops. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection.