Ploceus albinucha
The Maxwell's Black Weaver (Ploceus albinucha) is a striking passerine from the weaver family, Ploceidae, immediately identifiable by its glossy black plumage contrasting sharply with a prominent white nuchal patch at the base of its neck. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 21-25 grams, it possesses a sturdy, conical bill adapted for seed-eating, though its diet is more varied. This distinctive white nape patch, present in both sexes and all ages, ...
Primarily inhabits the understory and mid-canopy of lowland primary rainforests and mature secondary forests, generally found below 1000 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on beetles, caterpillars, and other arthropods gleaned from foliage and bark, supplemented with seeds and some fruit.
Maxwell's Black Weaver is a diurnal, active species, often observed foraging during daylight hours, typically roosting communally in dense foliage. It regularly forages in the middle and upper strata of the forest, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks to glean insects from leaves and bark,...
Maxwell's Black Weaver is found across a broad swathe of West and Central Africa, inhabiting a discontinuous range. Its distribution extends from Sierra Leone and Liberia eastward through Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. Further east, it occurs in Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central A...
Least Concern
- The Maxwell's Black Weaver is named after Sir Herbert Maxwell, a Scottish politician and naturalist, who described the species in the late 19th century. - Unlike many of its weaver relatives known for large, bustling colonies, Maxwell's Black Weaver typically nests solitarily or in loose, small...