Southern Brown-throated Weaver
Ploceus xanthopterus
Fairly small and slim weaver with a slender bill. Breeding male is distinctive: bright yellow overall with a chestnut bib. Females, non-breeding males, and juveniles are much duller but show streaking on the back and (usually) a pale base to the dark bill. Found mainly in wetlands, though they will range into drier surrounding country. Almost always in flocks. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song. Plumages other than breeding male can be hard to separate from other weavers, but they can be cautiously identified by the pale base of the bill, wetland habitat, and overall size and shape.
Identification
The southern brown-throated weaver (Ploceus xanthopterus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in southern Africa.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ploceus; Family: Ploceidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Ploceus xanthopterus
- Authority
- (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1870)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Ploceus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Oriental Bay-Owl
Phodilus badius
Small owl with a distinctive, highly angular head. Dark chestnut above and pale creamy gray below with light spotting on the sides. Dark eyes are emphasized by the general paleness of the face and the vertical dark ridges above them which form into small rounded tufts. Typically stands quite upright, giving it a heavy-headed appearance. Small and often difficult to find but can be common in a wide range of habitats, including evergreen forests and mangroves. Vocalizations are variable, and include rasps, screams, inflected gulping hoots, and a high-pitched mellow whistled song with the first few notes downslurred and the last few notes upslurred, which can be likened to “hii-huu-huu-huwee-huwee-huwee”.
Green-and-rufous Kingfisher
Chloroceryle inda
Fairly small kingfisher, unique with its green back and entirely rufous belly. Most similar to American Pygmy Kingfisher but nearly twice as large, and without American Pygmy's white lower belly. Sexes similar, but female has speckled green band across chest. Found singly along slow-moving streams or swamps. Usually seen perched inconspicuously just above the water.
Rufous-tailed Weaver
Histurgops ruficauda
A large, unusual and distinctive weaver with scaly plumage, rufous tail and wing panels, a white-edged shoulder, and pale eyes. Found in moderately moist savanna and woodland at middle elevations, often in small flocks. Nests in colonies. Similar in shape and size to Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, but separated by many details, such as the lack of a red bill. The vocalizations are harsh nasal “skeeya” and “krrrra” notes, sometimes strung together into a series.
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