Black-headed weaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-backed weaver |
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| breeding male | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ploceus
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| Species: |
melanocephalus
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The black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), also known as the yellow-backed weaver, is a type of bird in the Ploceidae family. These birds are famous for building amazing nests!
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What is a Black-headed Weaver?
The black-headed weaver is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to a group of birds called weavers. They get their name because they "weave" their nests using plant materials.
How Weavers Get Their Name
Weaver birds are skilled builders. They use grass, leaves, and other plant parts. They carefully weave these materials together. This creates strong, hanging nests.
What Does the Black-headed Weaver Look Like?
Black-headed weavers have different looks. This depends on if they are male or female. It also depends on the time of year.
Male Weavers: Breeding Season
During the breeding season, male black-headed weavers are very striking. They have a shiny black head. They also have a bright yellow band around their neck. This yellow band is called a nuchal collar. It helps tell them apart from other similar birds. Their body feathers are usually plain and greenish. Their chest and belly are pale yellow. Sometimes, these parts have a bit of chestnut color.
Female Weavers and Non-Breeding Males
Female black-headed weavers look different. They do not have the black head. Males also lose their black head outside the breeding season. These birds look a lot like female masked weavers. However, black-headed weavers have dark eyes. Their beaks are also darker. Their chest feathers are a buffy (light brownish-yellow) color. This helps to tell them apart from other weaver birds.
Where Do Black-headed Weavers Live?
The black-headed weaver lives in many parts of Africa. You can find them in West, Central, and East Africa. They have also been brought to the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. This means they are an introduced species there.
Preferred Homes for Weavers
These birds love to live in savanna areas. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees. They usually live near water sources. This could be rivers, lakes, or marshes. They often build their nests in Acacia trees. They like to build nests about 3 meters (10 feet) away from the ground. This helps keep their eggs and chicks safe from predators.
Gallery
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Male displaying in papyrus marsh
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Male bird in Queen Elizabeth N.P., Uganda
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Clutch of eggs from Senegal (MHNT)
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See also
In Spanish: Tejedor cabecinegro para niños
