Village Weaver

Description:

Also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver. The village weaver is a stocky 15–17 cm bird with a strong conical bill and dark reddish eyes. Seen here in the grounds of a hotel where it was totally unconcerned with passing people.

Habitat:

This species occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, including woodlands and human habitation, and frequently forms large noisy colonies in towns, villages and hotel grounds. This weaver builds a large coarsely woven nest made of grass and leaf strips with a downward facing entrance which is suspended from a branch in a tree. Two to three eggs are laid. Village weavers are colonial breeders, so many nests may hang from one tree.