Ploceus grandis
The Giant Weaver (Ploceus grandis) is a magnificent and robust member of the weaver family (Ploceidae), notable for its considerable size, typically measuring 20-22 cm in length and weighing between 50-70 grams. Males in breeding plumage are particularly striking, showcasing brilliant golden-yellow underparts, a contrasting black facial mask extending to the throat, and olive-green upperparts, while females exhibit a more subdued olive-green coloration with streaked underparts. A key identifi...
Found primarily in humid primary and mature secondary lowland forests, often favoring areas near rivers, forest edges, and clearings. It typically inhabits elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 1,200 meters.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on a wide variety of grass seeds and cultivated grains, supplemented with insects, especially during the breeding season.
Giant Weavers are highly social birds, often observed foraging in mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season, though they become fiercely territorial around their nesting colonies. Daily activity peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, with mid-day spent roosting in dense foliage. Fo...
The Giant Weaver (Ploceus grandis) is endemic to the island of Madagascar, found exclusively in the eastern humid forest belt. Its breeding range encompasses the contiguous primary and mature secondary lowland rainforests along the eastern coast, stretching from the northern region of Marojejy Na...
Near Threatened
- The male Giant Weaver can construct multiple elaborate nests in a single breeding season, often building a new one if a previously built nest fails to attract a mate or is damaged. - Its nests are renowned for their intricate, tightly woven structure, showcasing some of the most advanced avian ...