Chestnut-and-black Weaver
Ploceus castaneofuscus
Males have an unusual and distinctive coloration: mostly black, with a chestnut back and belly. Females are brownish-olive, with paler underparts, and a rufous tinge to the rump. Both sexes have a pale eye: yellow in males and pale-brown in females. Found in wet scrub, cultivation, and along forest edge. Usually found in flocks and bustling breeding colonies. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chet” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song. Females could be confused with various other weaver species, but are usually identified by their association with the distinctive males.
Identification
The chestnut-and-black weaver (Ploceus castaneofuscus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in West Africa from Sierra Leone to southern Nigeria. The chestnut-and-black weaver was formerly treated as a subspecies of Vieillot's black weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus). The species were split based on the striking differences in the colour of the plumage.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ploceus; Family: Ploceidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Ploceus castaneofuscus
- Authority
- Lesson, RP, 1840
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Ploceus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Caspian Tern
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