Golden-backed Weaver male, figure from Shelley (1888)
Golden-backed Weaver male, figure from Mackworth (1955)
Golden-backed Weaver female, figure from Mackworth (1955)
Golden-backed Weaver distribution, type locality circled
Introduction
The Golden-backed Weaver was formally described by George Ernest Shelley, an English geologist and ornithologist.
The Golden-backed Weaver was collected by Frederick John Jackson, an English administrator, explorer and ornithologist.
Jackson arrived in Kenya in December 1884, where he undertook several hunting and collecting trips. In mid 1886 he decided to go to Kilimanjaro for a few months to hunt and collect specimens. While based near Mount Kilimanjaro a new species was brought to him, which was sent to England where Shelley described it as the Golden-backed Weaver.
Jackson wrote the following about how he obtained the specimen: "Little credit is due to me for having brought this new species to light, as the specimen was brought to me by a little Taveita boy, tied by the legs along with several others of the common yellow species, and was the only one that I kept, as all the rest had had their tails pulled out."
The first illustration of the Golden-backed Weaver was of the male type specimen, published by Shelley (1888). The next illustrations to be published were 6 decades later: colour paintings of the male and female in Mackworth (1955).
Weaver Watch
