# Black-headed Weaver (*Ploceus melanocephalus*) The Black-headed Weaver is a colorful bird with a shiny black head and bright yellow body. They are known for weaving intricate nests that hang from trees, making them look like little works of art! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black-headed Weaver](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Yellow_backed_weaver.jpg&width=800) Photo: Tom Tarrant, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellow_backed_weaver.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-headed Weaver has a striking black head and throat in males, contrasting sharply with a chestnut nape and bright yellow underparts. Its back is olive-yellow, and it possesses a robust, conical bill. Females are duller, primarily streaked olive-brown with yellow hints. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Ploceidae - **Genus:** Ploceus ## Interesting facts - A single colony of these birds can have hundreds of cleverly woven nests! - Their nests are so strong, they can survive big storms and heavy winds! - They often build their nests hanging over water to keep hungry predators away. - Wow! The male weaver builds several nests, and the female chooses the best one! ## Special abilities - **Master Weaver:** Black-headed Weaver can construct complex, enclosed nests because of their specialized bill and strong feet that help them weave grass. - **Community Builder:** Black-headed Weavers have a knack for colonial nesting that helps them raise young and protect against predators in groups. - **Bug Hunter:** Black-headed Weaver can spot and catch small insects because of their keen eyesight and agile movements, which helps them find food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-16 cm - **Wingspan:** 22-26 cm - **Weight:** 0.014-0.025 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days ## Diet & Feeding These birds enjoy a mix of insects and seeds, often foraging in groups. - **Primary Foods:** caterpillars, grasshoppers, termites, rice seeds, sorghum seeds, nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** African Goshawk (*Accipiter tachiro*) — Hunts adult weavers for food. - **Eaten by:** Boomslang (*Dispholidus typus*) — Preys on eggs and nestlings in their nests. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Consumes these insects as a protein source. - **Eats:** Rice Plant (*Oryza sativa*) — Feeds on the seeds from these plants. - **Eats:** Sorghum Plant (*Sorghum bicolor*) — Eats seeds, especially during the dry season. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-headed Weaver? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-headed Weaver? 14-16 cm ### What is Black-headed Weaver's wingspan? 22-26 cm ### How much does Black-headed Weaver weigh? 0.014-0.025 kg ### How long does Black-headed Weaver live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Black-headed Weaver move? 60 km/h ### What does Black-headed Weaver eat? These birds enjoy a mix of insects and seeds, often foraging in groups. ### Where is Black-headed Weaver usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black-headed Weaver: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-headed-weaver)