Bob-tailed weaver

Description:

Very small weaver, 10 to 12 cm long. Male has a buffy (not yellow) belly, black mottled face and black stout bill, with dark brown - dark green streaked upperparts. Female is buffy brown all over, without black mask. Very short tail for both sexes.

Habitat:

This bird is endemic to open areas in Congo bassin, these ones a bit out of range according to my literature. Seen in town of Kindu, not too far away from river Congo.

Notes:

These birds were left un-identified for over two years, in my folder "unknown"... until friends from ABC (African Bird Club) helped with the ID. It's true that the spotting was a bit out of its normal range, but it is also true that it was already recorded that far south... anyway, again many thanks to the crowd from ABC.