- Ploceus capensis
Other Names
Deutsch: Kapweber; Afrikaans: Kaapse Wewer
Description
17 - 18 cm and 50 g. The Cape Weaver is a stocky bird with streaked olive-brown upper parts and a long pointed conical bill. The breeding male has a yellow head and underparts, an orange face, and a white iris. The adult female has an olive-yellow head and breast, shading to pale yellow on the lower belly. Her eyes are brown. Young birds are similar to the female.
Habitat
This common species occurs in grassland, agricultural and fynbos habitats, often near rivers.
Diet
The Cape Weaver forages on ground, turning over small stones and dried animal-pats or perches on vegetation. He feeds on a wide variety of seeds, grain and insects.
Reproduction
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 or reed. It breeds in noisy colonies in trees (often willows or Eucalyptus, rarely palms) and reed beds. The Hadada Ibis will sometimes nest in the weaver colonies.
