Ploceus dorsomaculatus
The Yellow-capped Weaver (Ploceus dorsomaculatus) is a striking passerine bird of the Ploceidae family, captivating for its vivid breeding plumage. Averaging about 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length, adult males in breeding season display a glossy black head, face, and throat sharply contrasting with a brilliant yellow crown, giving the species its common name. Their upperparts are dark olive-green to blackish, often with a chestnut wash on the mantle, while underparts are streaked yellow and black...
This species primarily inhabits the canopy and sub-canopy of lowland evergreen rainforests, often venturing into secondary growth or forest edges. It is typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to around 1,000 meters.
The primary diet of the Yellow-capped Weaver consists of insects and other small invertebrates, which they glean from foliage and bark. They also supplement their diet with small seeds and fruit.
The Yellow-capped Weaver is a generally shy and unobtrusive bird, typically observed foraging individually or in small pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks in the non-breeding season. They are diurnal, spending their days actively gleaning insects from the leaves, branches, and vines ...
The Yellow-capped Weaver is endemic to the equatorial lowland rainforests of West-Central Africa. Its distribution spans from southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon, extending eastward through southern Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko Island), Gabon, the Republ...
Least Concern
- The Yellow-capped Weaver's breeding male boasts one of the most striking color patterns among forest weavers, with its stark black and vivid yellow cap. - Unlike many of its more familiar open-country weaver relatives, this species is relatively shy and prefers the dense cover of primary lowlan...