Weaver news

Weaver species robbed by African Harrier-Hawks

2014-11-30 (599)


African Harrier-Hawk
African Harrier-Hawk,
on Sociable Weaver nest,
figure from wikipedia

The African Harrier-Hawk (or Gymnogene) has a flexible tibio-tarsal joint, allowing it to search for prey in crevices and cavities. It often raids the nests of weaver birds - it hangs from the nests, flaps to keep its balance, and reaches into the nest with one foot to extract nestlings.

Weaver species that have had nests raided by the African Harrier-Hawk:

Buffalo-Weavers, sparrow-weavers, and social-weavers
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger
White-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis albirostris
White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali
Grey-headed Social-weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi
Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius

True weavers
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis
Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops
Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius