WeaveResearch Unit

Weavers of the World

There are some 112 species in the weaverbird family (Ploceidae), excluding the sparrows of genus Passer (Dowsett & Forbes-Watson 1993). The family is distributed through sub- Saharan Africa and southern Asia. It is a diverse group, illustrated by the following extremes. The pest Redbilled Quelea Quelea quelea has a population of an estimated 1500 million birds, and is considered by some to be the most numerous land-bird in the world (Elliott 1989). Contrast this with the rarest weaver, the threatened Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra, with 210–250 birds (Stattersfield & Capper 2000). The smallest weaver is the Zanzibar Red Bishop Euplectes nigroventris (wing of female 52–55.5–59 mm, Mackworth- Praed & Grant 1955) while the largest is the Longtailed Widow Euplectes progne (wing of male 124–141–158 mm, Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1973). Many species are brightly coloured while many other species have females and non-breeding males that are nondescript and difficult to identify.

There are 15 genera of weavers, which could be divided into 3 groups as shown below. Buffalo weavers build stick nests, sparrow wevaers build nests of dry grass, and the true weavers weave nests usually of fresh vegetation.

Weaver Research Unit collects and collates data, and coordinates research, about the weaverbird family, Ploceidae.

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