Baglafecht weaver

Baglafecht weaver
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Ploceus
Species: P. baglafecht
Binomial name
Ploceus baglafecht
(Daudin, 1802)

The baglafecht weaver (Ploceus baglafecht), also known as Reichenow's weaver is a species of weaver bird from the family Ploceidae which is found in eastern and central Africa. The origin of the word baglafecht is something of a mystery and was coined by Buffon, probably from a local name in an Abyssinian language.[2]

Description

Photographed at Bwindi NP, Uganda

The baglafecht weaver has a length of 15 cm (5.9 in). The adult male baglafecht weaver's has a distinctive black mask which extends from the bill through the eye and onto the ear coverts contrasting with the bright yellow forehead, forecrown and throat. The upperparts are yellowish green with dark centres to the feathers creating a faint streaking. The underparts are bright yellow on the breast fading to white towards the vent. The tail is yellow washed dark brown. The bill is black and the eye is pale yellow. The female baglafecht weaver lacks a mask but has dusky lores with yellowish-green cap, concolourous with the upperparts. In the non breeding plumage the mask is largely lost but there remains a dusky area around the eye, greyish brown on the upperparts, including the crown, with white washed buff underparts. Juveniles and immature birds do not have a mask on the dark-yellowish green head.[3]

Habits and habitat

The baglafecht weaver normally breeds singly rather than in colonies. The nests are loosely woven and usually placed in the foliage of trees or bushes. It is often aggressive to other birds and not shy of people. It is found in forest edge, woodlands, gardens and towns.[4]

Distribution

It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.[5]

Subspecies

The following subspecies are currently recognised:[5]

References

  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Ploceus baglafecht". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. "Histoire naturelle". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. Borrow, Nik; Demey, Ron (2001). Birds of Western Africa. A & C Black. ISBN 0-7136-3959-8.
  4. Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2003). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Struik. ISBN 1 86872 857 9.
  5. 1 2 "Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht (Daudin, 1802)". Avibase. Denis Lepage. Retrieved 15 October 2016.

External links

- Species text in Weaver Watch.

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