Ploceus subaureus
The Eastern Golden Weaver (Ploceus subaureus) is a vibrant passerine bird renowned for its brilliant yellow plumage and intricate nest-building prowess. Males are strikingly golden-yellow on the head and underparts, with an olive-green back and wings, and a dark eye that stands out against their bright face. Females are duller, exhibiting a more greenish-yellow hue overall, often with a yellowish supercilium, and lacking the male's intense coloration. This species typically measures 14-15 cm ...
This species thrives in open woodlands, savannas, coastal bush, and forest edges, often near water sources. It is also commonly found in cultivated areas and gardens, primarily in lowlands up to about 1000 meters elevation.
The diet primarily consists of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers, supplemented by various grass seeds. They may also consume nectar from flowers and soft fruits.
Eastern Golden Weavers are diurnal and highly social, often forming large, noisy flocks outside the breeding season, which then roost communally in dense reeds or thick vegetation. Their foraging strategy involves actively gleaning insects from foliage, flowers, and the ground, as well as feeding...
The Eastern Golden Weaver is a resident species found across East and Southern Africa. Its breeding range extends from southeastern Kenya, along the coastal lowlands of Tanzania, through Mozambique, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and into eastern South Africa, primarily Kwazulu-Natal and the East...
Least Concern
- The male Eastern Golden Weaver builds the entire intricate nest by himself, a feat that can take just a few days to complete. - Males are polygynous, often constructing multiple nests and attempting to attract several females in a single breeding season. - Their nests are typically suspended fr...