Black-headed weaver

The black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), also known as yellow-backed weaver, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae.

Not to be confused with Village weaver or Golden-backed weaver.

Black-backed weaver
breeding male
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Ploceidae
Genus:	Ploceus
Species:	P. melanocephalus
Binomial name
Ploceus melanocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Loxia melanocephala Linnaeus, 1758

Taxonomy and systematics

P. victoriae Ash, 1986 is now thought to be a hybrid between P. melanocephalus and P. castanops.

Description

Breeding males have a black head and yellow nuchal collar, which is absent in the golden-backed and Juba and golden-backed weavers. It also differs from the latter species and village weaver by its plain, greenish mantle plumage.[2] The pale yellow underpart plumage is suffused with a variable amount of chestnut.

The female and non-breeding male lack the black head, and resemble a female masked weaver, except that they have dark eyes and a darker bill. Their buffy breast plumage also distinguishes them from non-breeding golden-backed weavers.[2]

Distribution and habitat

It occurs in West, Central, and East Africa, but it has also been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula. It is found in savanna and similar habitats, typically near water. It often lives on an Acacia tree 3 meter away from land to prevent predator.[1]

Gallery

• 
  Male displaying in papyrus marsh
• 
  Male bird in Queen Elizabeth N.P., Uganda
• 
  Clutch of eggs from Senegal (MHNT)

References

1. BirdLife International (2012). "Ploceus melanocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url
2. Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2010). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 676. ISBN 9781770076235.