Taveta Weaver

ANIMAL:
Taveta Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps

Type of Animal:
Songbird

Habitat:
Savanna, bulrushes, woodland, swamps/swampy areas, marshes, wetlands, drier bush country, forests, riparian areas, shrubland, never found above 4,921.26 ft

Location(s):
SE Kenya & E Tanzania

Appearance:
Males bright yellow w/ greenish wings/tails & chestnut patches on napes/chests, females yellowish-olive w/ dusty streaks & pale yellow underbelly, black beak

Food/Diet:
Seeds, corn, grains, grasses, insects, fruit, vegetables, insect larvae

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding from zoos, private breeders, & wildlife parks

Lifestyle:
Colonies often have 30-40 birds

Additional Info:

Called:
Male: Cock
Female: Hen
Young: Chick
Group: Colony

Weight:
0.6-0.8 oz

Gestation:
2 weeks 

Life Span:
10-20 years

Body Length:
5.5 in

Tail Length:
1.375 in

Females usually lay 2-3 dark olive green eggs.
 
Often called Taveta Golden Weaver.
 
Colonies often seen in proximity w/ other weaver species.
 
Chicks fledge at 2 weeks old.
 
Sexually mature at 10-12 months.
 
Short thick bills come in handy for cracking seeds open.
 
Often breed twice a year.
 
While common in captivity & in wild, there’s still much more to be learned about these birds. Most common weaver species in captivity.

Fun Fact(s):
Named after SE Kenyan town of Taveta.
 
Well-known for nest weaving (hence name), males use beaks to weave nests & females choose mate based on male’s weaving skills. Males typically build woven spherical/oval grass/reed nests (usually over water), sometimes w/ up to 5 chambers & long entrance tunnel. Some nests fill entire trees & many trees can have up to 10 nests. Sometimes, multiple males share single nests which will have many apartment-like chambers. If female(s) interested, she’ll line nest w/ fresh grass. If nest fails to be selected by any females, males break nest down & rebuild.
 
While using beaks to make nests, legs/feet/claws used for hanging on while nest building.
 
Very noisy birds making harsh, low-pitched chattering.

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