Weavers are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which breed in sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia and also in Australia. The weaver group is divided into the buffalo, sparrow, typical, and widow weavers. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. Weaver get their name because of their elaborately woven nests. The nests vary in size, shape, material used, and construction techniques from species to species. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf-fibers, grass, and twigs. Most species weave nests that have narrow entrances, facing downward. The weavers are gregarious birds which often breed colonially. Usually the male birds weave the nests and use them as a form of display to lure prospective females.

[Abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Amblyospiza - 1 species

Weaver, Thick-billed aka Grosbeak Weaver  Amblyospiza albifron  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Arno Meintjes  4) Dick Daniels in Johannesburg, South Africa
1, 2) Female  3, 4) Male



Genus Anaplectes - 1 species

Weaver, Red-headed  Anaplectes rubriceps  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels near Kruger National Park, South Africa
1, 2) Female  3, 4, 5) Male




Genus Bubalornis

Weaver, Red-billed Buffalo- Bubalornis niger   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Darren Bellerby - Kruger National Park, South Africa  2, 3) Dick Daniels in Tanzania



Genus Dinemellia - 1 species

Weaver, White-headed Buffalo- Dinemellia dinemelli   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Tanzania  2) Dick - Jacksonville Zoo, Florida   3, 4) Steve Garvie - Bufalo Springs NP, Kenya.



Genus Euplectes

Bishop, Black  Euplectes gierowii   Found: Africa 
Photographed by: 1, 2) Martin Grimm


Bishop, Black-winged  aka Black-winged Red Bishop  Euplectes hordeaceus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden, South Africa


Bishop, Red aka Southern Red Bishop  Euplectes orix  Found: Africa 
Photographed by:  1) JJ Harrison - The Bird Walk aviary in Australia  2) Dick Daniels in Oudtshoorn, South Africa
       3, 4) Dick between Swellendam and De Hook, South Africa


Biship, Northen Red  aka  Orange Bishop  Euplectes franciscanus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Trisha Shears - Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek, Michigan


Widow, Yellow-rumped  aka Yellow Bishop  Euplectes capensis  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels between Swellendam and De Hook, South Africa 
    3) Darren Bellerby - Sunbird Lodge, Lake Elementatia Kenya
1, 2) Male  3) Female


Widowbird, Long-tailed   Euplectes progne   Found: Africa
Photographed by: Ecologyweb



Genus Foudia

Fody, Madagascar  aka  Red Fody  Foudia madagascariensis  Found: Madagascar
Photographed by: 1) Trisha Shears - Louisville Zoo
1) Male 



Genus Histurgops- 1 species

Weaver, Rufous-tailed Histurgops ruficaudus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Profberger - Tanzania  2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Tanzania



Genus Philetairus - 1 species

Weaver, Sociable  Philetairus socius  Found: southern Africa
Photographed by: Andy Cowley - Namibia



Genus Plocepasser
The Sparrow-weavers.

Weaver, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-.  Plocepasser donaldsoni  Found: Africa
Photographed by Steve Garvie - Samburu NP, Kenya


Weaver, White-browed Sparow- Plocepasser mahali  Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Steve Garvie Buffalo Springs NP, Kenya  2, 3,  4) Carol Foil - Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Kenya



Genus Ploceus

Weaver, African Golden  Ploceus subaureus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1)  Cessna 206 - Zanzibar


Weaver, Holub's Golden  aka Large Golden-weaver  Ploceus xanthops  Found: Africa
Photographed by DIck Daniels - South Africa


Weaver, Taveta Golden Ploceus castaneiceps  Found: Africa (Kenya, Tanzaniz)
Photographed by Trisha Shears - Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek, Michigan


Weaver, Baglafecht Ploceus baglafecht   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2)  Carol Foil - Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
    3) Darren Bellerby - Sunbird Lodge, Lake Elementatia Kenya   4) Dick Daniels - Tanzania


Weaver, Black-headed  Ploceus melanocephalus  Found: Europe, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Tom Tarrant - Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda  2) Darren Bellerby - Sunbird Lodge, Lake Elementatia Kenya


Weaver, Cape  Ploceus capensis  Endemic to South Africa
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes  2) Dick Daniels - Plettenberg Bay, South Africa 
    3, 4, 5) Dick - Swaziland   6) Dick - Birds of Eden, South Africa



Weaver, Chestnut  Ploceus rubiginosus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Carol Foil - Archers Post, Rift Valley, Kenya  2) Garvin Goodhart
1) Female


Weaver, Golden Palm  Ploceus bojeri  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Thierry Marysael  2, 3) Carol Foil- Archers Post, Rift Valley, Kenya


Weaver, Lesser Masked  Ploceus intermedius  Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden, South Africa  4, 5, 6)  Dick - Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa



Weaver, Southern Brown-throated  Ploceus xanthopterus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Jerry Oldenettel - near Shakawe, Botswana


Weaver, Southern Masked-  Ploceus velatus  Found: southern Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) Dick Daniels - Jonannesburg, South Africa  3) Derek Keats
1, 2, 3) Male 4 - 7) Female   3) Weaving the nest



Weaver, Speke's Ploceus spekei   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania   4) Carol Foil - Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya


Weaver, Village  Ploceus cucullatus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Hauke Koch  2) Alain Fossé


Weaver, Vitelline Masked Ploceus vitellinus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania
Female is on the right.



Genus Pseudonigrita

Weaver, Black-capped Social Pseudonigrita cabanisi   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Steve Garvie  - Buffalo Springs NP, Kenya.  3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania
1, 2) Male  3) Female


Weaver, Grey-capped Social aka Grey-headed Social Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - Tanzania   3) Steve Garvie - the Masai Mara, Kenya.



Genus Quelea

Quelea, Red-billed  Quelea quelea   Found: Africa
Photographed by:   1, 2) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden, South Africa (Identifed by Charlie Westerinen) 
    3) Charlie Westerinen - Namibia
1, 2, 3) Female   



Genus Sporopipes

Finch, Scaly-feathered aka Scaly Weaver  Sporopipes squamifrons  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Namibia


Weaver, Speckle-fronted Sporopipes frontalis   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Carol Foil - Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya   2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Tanzania