Taveta Golden Weaver - Ploceus castaneiceps
Habitat:
Open woodland
Range:
It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Features:
Males are bright yellow with greenish wings and tail, and chestnut patches on the nape and chest. They keep their bright plumage all year. Females are yellowish-olive with dusky streaks and pale yellow underparts. They have a yellow stripe above each eye.
Size:
Small birds-about the size of a finch
Social Structure:
Nest in large colonies
Life Expectancy:
Approximately 20 years
Diet:
In the wild, they eat seeds of grass and corn.
Reproduction:
Males build woven nests, sometimes with several chambers and a long entrance tunnel. Females line the inside of the nest with grass or other soft material. Sometimes a single pair builds their own nest, or pairs may join together to build a large, elaborate nest with many apartment-like chambers. They lay 2-3 olive green eggs in each clutch. Females catch insects or other live prey to feed to their chicks.
Status:
They have a stable conservation status. The IUCN lists Taveta Golden Weavers as "least concern".
Interesting Facts:
- Weavers get their name by the elaborate woven nests that they build
- Very noisy birds that chatter constantly
- It builds spherical grass nests, usually suspended over water.
Socialize
