Black-backed weaver
breeding male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Ploceus
Species:
P. melanocephalus
Binomial name
Ploceus melanocephalus
Synonyms
  • Loxia melanocephala Linnaeus, 1758

The black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), also known as yellow-backed weaver, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae.

Taxonomy and systematics

P. victoriae Ash, 1986 is now thought to be a hybrid between P. melanocephalus and P. castanops.

Description

Breeding males have a black head and yellow nuchal collar, which is absent in the Juba and golden-backed weavers. It also differs from the latter species and village weaver by its plain, greenish mantle plumage.[2] The pale yellow underpart plumage is suffused with a variable amount of chestnut.

The female and non-breeding male lack the black head, and resemble a female masked weaver, except that they have dark eyes and a darker bill. Their buffy breast plumage also distinguishes them from non-breeding golden-backed weavers.[2]

Distribution and habitat

It occurs in West, Central, and East Africa, but it has also been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula.[3] It is found in savanna and similar habitats, typically near water. It often lives on an Acacia tree 3 meter away from land to prevent predation.[1]

Media related to Ploceus melanocephalus at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Ploceus melanocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22718949A125533442. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22718949A125533442.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2010). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 676. ISBN 9781770076235.
  3. ↑ John Cantelo. "Aliens amongst us ..." Cadiz Birding Blog.


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