Baglafecht weaver

Baglafecht weaver
♂ P. b. subsp. reichenowi, Tanzania
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Ploceidae
Genus:Ploceus
Species: P. baglafecht
Binomial name
Ploceus baglafecht
(Daudin, 1802)

The baglafecht weaver (Ploceus baglafecht), also known as Reichenow's weaver, is a species of weaver bird from the family Ploceidae which is found in eastern and central Africa. The origin of the word baglafecht is something of a mystery and was coined by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, probably from a local name in an Abyssinian language.[2] There are several disjunct populations with distinguishable plumage patterns.[3] Only some races display a discrete non-breeding plumage.[4]

Description

Stuhlmann's weaver (P. b. stuhlmanni) in Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda

The baglafecht weaver has a length of 15 cm (5.9 in).

The adult male baglafecht weaver has a distinctive black mask which extends from the bill through the eye and onto the ear coverts contrasting with the bright yellow forehead, forecrown and throat. The upperparts are yellowish green with dark centres to the feathers creating a faint streaking. The underparts are bright yellow on the breast fading to white towards the vent. The tail is yellow washed dark brown. The bill is black and the eye is pale yellow.

The female baglafecht weaver lacks a mask but has dusky lores with yellowish-green cap, concolorous with the upperparts. In the non breeding plumage the mask is largely lost but there remains a dusky area around the eye, greyish brown on the upperparts, including the crown, with white washed buff underparts. Juveniles and immature birds do not have a mask on the dark-yellowish green head.[5]

The nominate race and Emin's weaver assume a distinct non-breeding plumage, but Reichenow's weaver does not.[4]

Habits and habitat

The baglafecht weaver normally breeds singly rather than in colonies. The nests are loosely woven and usually placed in the foliage of trees or bushes. It is often aggressive to other birds and not shy of people. It is found in forest edge, woodlands, gardens and towns.[6]

Distribution

It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.[7]

Races

The following races are currently recognised:[7]

  • Ploceus baglafecht baglafecht
Range: Ethiopian highlands and southern Eritrea
  • Ploceus baglafecht neumanni
Range: eastern Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic
  • Ploceus baglafecht eremobius
Range: northeastern DRC and southwestern South Sudan
  • Ploceus baglafecht emini – Emin's weaver
Range: southeastern South Sudan and northern Uganda
  • Ploceus baglafecht reichenowi – Reichenow's weaver
Range: Kenyan highlands and northern Tanzania
  • Ploceus baglafecht stuhlmanni – Stuhlmann's weaver
Range: eastern DRC to southern Uganda and western Tanzania
  • Ploceus baglafecht sharpii
Range: Montane forests of southwestern Tanzania
  • Ploceus baglafecht nyikae
Range: Nyika Plateau of Zambia and Malawi

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Ploceus baglafecht". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Histoire naturelle". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2010). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. pp. 670–671. ISBN 9781770076235.
  4. 1 2 Zimmerman, Dale A.; et al. (1999). Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Princeton University Press. pp. 660–661. ISBN 0691010226.
  5. ↑ Borrow, Nik; Demey, Ron (2001). Birds of Western Africa. A & C Black. ISBN 0-7136-3959-8.
  6. ↑ Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2003). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Struik. ISBN 1 86872 857 9.
  7. 1 2 "Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht (Daudin, 1802)". Avibase. Denis Lepage. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
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