Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) lives in grasslands, savannah across Southern Africa. It feeds on insects and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Southern Masked Weaver
- At just 11-14.5 cm long, the southern masked weaver fits on the tip of a ruler yet builds colonies of typically 25 nests each breeding season. Males start construction from September and keep adding nests until January, weaving reed, palm or grass into hanging chambers that often perch over water.
- Male southern masked weavers sport a striking breeding outfit: a black face, throat and beak, bright yellow head and underparts, a plain yellow-green back, and a vivid red eye. While females wear dull greenish-yellow plumage with a pinkish-brown bill, non-breeding males keep the female's colors but retain the red eye. Males have several female partners and build a succession of nests, typically about 25 each season.
- Egg colour variation is the weaver's secret weapon against brood-parasitic cuckoos. By laying eggs in a range of shades, the female makes it impossible for a cuckoo to match the host's clutch before entering the nest. If a cuckoo does lay an odd-coloured egg, the weaver promptly ejects it, protecting its own offspring from being outcompeted.
- Despite its tiny size, the southern masked weaver thrives in a mosaic of habitats, from savanna and grassland to semi-desert and even suburban gardens. It nests in trees, reeds, and sometimes over water, showing a flexibility that lets it exploit both natural wetlands and human-made parks. This adaptability means the species remains common throughout southern Africa.
- The southern masked weaver's diet is a balanced buffet of insects, seeds and nectar, and it readily visits feeding tables set by people. Often seen alone or in small groups, it can also join larger mixed flocks with other seed-eaters.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSouthern Africa
HabitatGrasslands, savannah
DietInsects and seeds
About the Southern Masked Weaver
In the sun-drenched savannas, the Southern Masked Weaver dances across the grasslands with an air of irrepressible energy, its wings beating in a blur of yellow and black as it flits between the intricate nests it so meticulously constructs. With each flutter, the male's bright yellow mask glows like a miniature sun, a beacon of vibrant life amidst the rustling reeds and whispering winds. As it weaves its remarkable tapestries of grass and twig, this diminutive bird embodies the very essence of industry and artistry, its every movement a testament to the boundless ingenuity of nature.
Hear the Southern Masked Weaver, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
