White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
Dinemellia dinemelli
A large, chunky, beautiful and distinctive weaver found in a variety of open and savanna habitats. The head and most of the underparts are white, though the undertail and rump are red. A white wing patch is conspicuous in flight. Often found in flocks, sometimes mixed with other birds. The calls are squeaky, penetrating whistles, often given by a whole group in chorus.
Identification
The white-headed buffalo weaver is 170 to 190 mm (6.7–7.5 in) in length and 57 to 85 g (2.0–3.0 oz) in weight. In addition to its white head and underparts, the white-headed buffalo weaver has a vividly orange-red rump and undertail coverts. Its thighs are dark brown. Narrow white bands can be found on the wings especially when stretch his wings sideways. Both sexes are similar in plumage and hard to differentiate. The bill is conical and black. D. d. dinemelli has a brown tail, whereas D. d. boehmi has a black tail.
Taxonomy
The white-headed buffalo weaver was first described by the German naturalist Eduard Rüppell in 1845.<p>Two subspecies of the white-headed buffalo weaver are now recognized.
- Scientific name
- Dinemellia dinemelli
- Authority
- (Rüppell, 1845)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Dinemellia
Range and habitat
The white-headed buffalo weaver is native to the African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. It prefers habitats such as savanna, and shrublands, but especially dry brush and acacia thickets.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Short-billed Canastero
Asthenes baeri
Medium-sized, rather nondescript bird, plain dull brown with a tail that is usually held cocked. Note the orange throat patch. Inhabits arid areas with scrub and woodlands, where it forages both in trees and on the ground. The song is a high nasal trill. The similar Sharp-billed Canastero has a longer bill and tail and an indistinct eyebrow.
Chimango Caracara
Daptrius chimango
Noisy, conspicuous, and often a common scavenger in habitats ranging from towns and cities to open forest, farmland, and beaches; ecological counterpart to crows. Often in groups, locally of tens or even hundreds, feeding on the ground or tumbling and sailing with agile flight; often chases and mobs larger raptors. Plumage brownish overall, often with gingery tones, and with variable paler dappling above and fine barring below. Bold creamy white wing panels and tail base striking in flight.
Australasian Grebe
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Small ducklike bird that rides low in the water. In breeding plumage note bright yellow eye, dark face, and rusty brown neck. In non-breeding plumage it is much paler, with the dark cap not extending below the eye (compare with Hoary-headed Grebe). Can be abundant; typically on freshwater ponds and lakes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.