Southern Masked Weaver

Description:

The breeding male is bright yellow with black face and throat. Eyes are bright red (photos 1, 3, 5 and 6). Non-breeding male resembles female weaver: greyish-brown body and yellowish primaries (photo 2). In that series, the male is coming back in early Spring to inspect a nest from the previous year. It then decide to build a new one, to build a second one below the first one and then to fill with fresh grass. The male weaver could build dozens of nests in one year and have multiple partners.

Habitat:

Suburban areas and parks: open range with sparse trees, close to source of water. The nest is often build in a tree over water.

Notes:

Also called African Masked Weaver.