# Village Weaver (*Ploceus cucullatus*) The Village Weaver is a colorful bird known for its amazing nests. They weave their homes from grass and twigs, making them look like little hanging baskets in trees. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** African Weaver, Yellow Weaver ![Village Weaver](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Village_weaver_%28Ploceus_cucullatus_cucullatus%29_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Village_weaver_%28Ploceus_cucullatus_cucullatus%29_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Village Weaver is a stout, medium-sized bird. Breeding males are strikingly bright yellow with a black face, bill, and throat, often having a chestnut wash on their breast. Females and non-breeding males are duller, olive-yellow, and streaked, making them less vibrant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Ploceidae - **Genus:** Ploceus ## Interesting facts - Male weavers often build multiple nests in a season, hoping one impresses a female! - Their sturdy woven nests can sometimes survive for more than a year. - Weaver nests often include a small tunnel-like entrance to deter predators. - Young weavers learn weaving skills by observing their parents and practicing. ## Special abilities - **Master Architect:** Village Weavers can intricately weave complex hanging nests from grass and leaves because of their specialized beaks and strong feet. - **Nest Judge:** Village Weavers have a unique system where females inspect male-built nests, and if rejected, the male will often dismantle it to rebuild. - **Community Builder:** Village Weavers can live in huge colonies, building hundreds of nests close together which helps with predator defense and resource sharing. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-17 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-28 cm - **Weight:** 0.038-0.048 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-7 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 12-15 days ## Diet & Feeding These busy birds enjoy a meal of seeds and insects, helping to keep gardens healthy! - **Primary Foods:** grass seeds, cereal grains, caterpillars, beetles, termites, nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** African Goshawk (*Accipiter tachiro*) — A predator of adult weavers and chicks. - **Parasitizes:** Pin-tailed Whydah (*Vidua macroura*) — Brood parasite laying eggs in weaver nests. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Consumes insects like locusts for protein. - **Eats:** Maize (*Zea mays*) — Feeds on seeds from agricultural crops. ## 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. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [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. - [Web Builder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/web-builder): This trait characterizes organisms that construct elaborate silken webs for catching prey, shelter, or reproduction. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Village 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 Village Weaver? 15-17 cm ### What is Village Weaver's wingspan? 25-28 cm ### How much does Village Weaver weigh? 0.038-0.048 kg ### How long does Village Weaver live? 5-7 years ### How fast can Village Weaver move? 40 km/h ### What does Village Weaver eat? These busy birds enjoy a meal of seeds and insects, helping to keep gardens healthy! ### Where is Village Weaver usually found? Grasslands ## 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: [Village Weaver: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/village-weaver)