Malimbus cassini
Cassin's Malimbe (Malimbus cassini) is a stunning member of the weaver family (Ploceidae), renowned for its vivid plumage and intricate nest-building skills. Males are a striking sight, adorned in glossy black with an extensive crimson hood covering the head, throat, and breast, while females exhibit a similar but often less expansive red on the throat and breast, sometimes restricted to the crown. These medium-sized passerines typically measure about 13-15 cm in length and weigh between 20-3...
Found primarily in lowland evergreen rainforests, often frequenting forest edges, clearings, and mature secondary growth. It typically occurs at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of insects such as caterpillars, beetles, ants, and spiders, gleaned from foliage and bark. Occasionally consumes small fruits or nectar.
Cassin's Malimbe is a diurnal species, generally active during daylight hours, and is often observed foraging alone or in small family groups, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and other arthropods from leaves, branches, and bark in...
Cassin's Malimbe is endemic to the humid forests of West and Central Africa, where it is a resident species with no significant migratory movements. Its distribution spans from southern Nigeria and Cameroon, extending eastward through the Central African Republic, northern Gabon, the Republic of ...
Least Concern
- Cassin's Malimbe males are renowned for their incredible weaving skills, constructing intricate, pendulous nests that are architectural marvels. - This species was named in honor of John Cassin, a prominent American ornithologist of the 19th century. - Despite their vibrant red and black plumag...