The Red-billed Quelea may nest in small colonies, or more often, in colonies of thousands of nests. This species also builds nests through the year, that are not breeding nests. The birds roost in large flocks in reeds or trees, and they leave the roosts at dawn to fly some distance to forage in the early morning. By mid morning they congregate in smaller flocks near their foraging sites to rest for the hot part of the day. While resting they chatter and build non-breeding nests, which may be partial or complete structures.

These midday roost sites with nests provide important information by showing where the main foraging areas of this major pest species are. Several of these sites are in PHOWN - see here.