THIS week we look at one of the more attractive and ‘stand-out’ weavers in the Highway area, the Spectacled Weaver.

Also read: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Tambourine Dove

Description

The Spectacled Weaver has a very typical weaver bird shape and size, measuring 16cm in length and a weight of 30g. Unlike most other weavers it is not streaked and is easily distinguished by the pronounced black bandit-like ‘mask’ surrounding the eyes which gives this bird its name. It is a bright yellow weaver with uniform green wings. The back and upper tail are also greenish. Males have a black patch on the throat which helps distinguish them from females who don’t have this feature.

Distribution

The Spectacled Weaver is only found in the eastern part of South Africa from the Eastern Cape northwards to the Limpopo Province.

Habitat

The preferred habitat of the Spectacled Weaver includes forest edges, woodlands and riparian areas. It is very seldom seen in established forests away from rivers.

Feeding

The Spectacled Waver is omnivorous but feeds mainly on insects which it forages on branches of trees where it can often be seen, sometimes upside down, while it pecks and probes flaky bark on trees such at the Paperbark Thorn tree. It will also hawk insects such as flying ants in the air when the occasion arises. It will also feed opportunistically on seeds, nectar and fruit.

Breeding

Unlike most other weavers this species is not very sociable so they will nest alone. The nest is a typically complex weaver bird construction of finely woven grass or thin plant material. The nest can take up to two weeks to build and usually has a downward tunnel for entry. The female will add the lining to the interior before egg-laying. The female will lay between one and four eggs which are incubated by both adults who also both take care of the chicks once they hatch. Incubation is approximately two weeks.

Predators and threats

The Spectacled Weaver is listed as ‘least concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the numbers are healthy in most regions. Because they are quite attractive birds, they may be vulnerable to exploitation in the pet trade.

Local information

The Spectacled Weaver can be found in the Highway area, but you do need to search for it as it is not as common as some of the other weaver species in the Highway area. Forest edges are the best locations, and they are often seen in the riverine area of the Msinsi Grasslands in Kloof.

Interesting facts

Spectacled Weavers often build very long nest entry tunnels which hang below the nest. These can be up to 60cm long in some cases. The longer the tunnel the more protection the eggs and chicks have from predators or birds such as Cuckoos who may want to parasitise their nest.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here