Forest weaver

Forest weaver

We are delighted that Karl Schucht has taken on the sponsorship of the woodland weaver (Ploceus bicolor).

Its German name "Waldweber" (forest weaver) suggests the habitat of this black and yellow coloured bird: its preferred habitat is forest - in various formations, from rainforest to gallery to drier forests. Its range includes individual regions between Nigeria and Central Africa to the east of the Republic of South Africa.

Like all members of the weaver family (Ploceidae), the woodland weaver (Ploceus bicolor) is a master nest builder. The round nest, made from dead thin climbing plants and vines, with a tunnel-shaped, downward-facing entrance, is usually attached to the top of a branch at a height of 2.5 - 15 metres. Inside, the rough nest material is lined with soft lichen, on which the female lays 2-4 eggs. Once hatched, the offspring are fed by both parents, who usually remain together as a monogamous pair for the rest of their lives.

The main food of the approximately 15 cm tall forest weaver is arthropods such as spiders, beetles, grasshoppers and flies, which they hunt at a height of 5-20 metres above the forest floor. However, plant food in the form of nectar and berries are also on the diet of the woodland weaver.