Asian golden weaver facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Asian golden weaver
Female
Male
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Ploceus
Species:	hypoxanthus

The Asian golden weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus) is a type of bird. It belongs to the weaver bird family. You can find this bird in several countries. These include Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This bird lives in warm, wet places. Its natural habitats include grasslands that flood sometimes. It also lives in swamps and even farmland. Sadly, its home is shrinking, which puts it in danger.

Discovering the Asian Golden Weaver

A Swedish scientist named Anders Erikson Sparrman first found and named the Asian golden weaver. He was a naturalist, which means he studied nature. Sparrman traveled the world with Captain James Cook. This was on Cook's second big trip to the Pacific Ocean.

Even though he sailed far, they did not visit Sumatra. After his journey, Sparrman went back to Cape Town in 1775. He worked there as a doctor. Later, in 1776, he returned to Sweden. He wrote a book describing many animals he found. This book included his Latin description of the Asian golden weaver.

What Does the Asian Golden Weaver Look Like?

The male Asian golden weaver is very easy to spot. When it's breeding season, the male is bright yellow. It also has a clear black mask on its face. This black mask helps identify it in Asia.

Female birds look different. Non-breeding males and young birds are also duller in color. They can be hard to tell apart from another bird, the Baya Weaver. The only way to tell them apart is their thicker bills.

In general, these birds are medium-sized. They have yellow and black feathers on their backs. Their undersides are yellow. They have a black face and a yellow top of the head. Their bill is strong and black. An average Asian golden weaver is about 22 centimeters long.

Where Do Asian Golden Weavers Live?

There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Asian golden weaver. One is called P. h. hypoxanthus. This type lives in Indonesia, specifically eastern Sumatra and western Java.

The other type is P. h. hymenaicus. You can find this one in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. This subspecies has feathers on its back that are more greenish-yellow. Its upper chest also has a stronger orange-brown color.

The Asian golden weaver used to be more common. This was especially true in Java and Sumatra. But now, it is rare in those areas. Its numbers are going down. This is because wetlands, their homes, are being turned into farms. People also catch these birds for the bird trade. Sometimes, their nesting colonies are destroyed. The oldest known Asian golden weaver lived to be 11 years old.

How Asian Golden Weavers Live

Asian golden weavers usually stay in one place. They are considered residents. They like to live in lowlands. These areas are often close to water. Their favorite spots include marshes, rice paddies, and flooded grasslands. They also live in swamps.

These birds mainly eat seeds. When they are breeding, insects make up only a small part of their diet. About 7% of their food during this time is insects.

Even though this bird is not globally endangered, it is "Near Threatened." This means its population is slowly decreasing.

Breeding and Nesting Habits

Most people believe that Asian golden weavers have one partner. This is called being monogamous. But sometimes, a male might have more than one partner. This is rare. They build their nests in small groups.

The male bird starts building the nest. The female then helps him finish it. The nest is round with an entrance on the side. It is woven from thin strips of grass or palm leaves. These nests are strongly attached to plants. They are usually over water or very wet ground. Often, they are less than 1 meter above the surface. You can find them in reeds or bulrushes.

Sometimes, nests are built in trees or bushes. These nests are usually higher than 2 meters off the ground. There are even records of nests built near hornet nests. Some are also found near biting ants.

A female usually lays two or three eggs. These eggs are often a grayish-white color. They can grow to an average size of 18.8 millimeters by 13.5 millimeters. Only the female bird sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This is called incubation. Once the chicks hatch, the female feeds them. The male helps sometimes too.

Images for kids

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  Asian Golden Weaver in Thailand