SANParks.org Forums

Southern Masked-weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Only now realised this bird has a ring

Other Names
Afrikaans: Swartkeelgeelvink
Dutch: maskerwever
German: Maskenweber, Schwarzstirnweber
Portuguese: Tecelão-de-máscara
French: Tisserin à tête rousse

Village Weaver?

The second Weaver has a bit of black on the forehead. A Village Weaver has a yellow forehead. I would go with Southern Masked Weaver.

For you, I have a new problem with two birds near a yellow-fronted Canary, a big one and a more smaller. Two weavers but from two different species, I suggest Village Weaver or Cape weaver for the bigger and Masked Weaver for the other one. What do you think about them?
Near Olifants.



Didbird
http://dbuysse.free.fr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Didbird, it always helps to give where you have seen the birds!!

Left - Southern Masked Weaver

I have delayed posting this as I was hoping to solve myself! duh!

This LBJ was darker than the norm on the feeder so a quick couple of photos.

Any guesses?

Southern Masked Weaver

Hi Cherries,

It is a female weaver and I think that weaver females are all very tough to id.

I normally look at which males are around to aid with my identification. For the JHB area you would be pretty safe with Southern Masked Weaver.

Thank you Deeftes and WTM

I have extreme difficulty with the LBJ's and this one only had its photo taken as it was darker than the norm. This allows me to study at leisure. Yes the feeder is covered with SM Weaver males - the peanut kids! Very new at closely investigating birdies. Not going to be deterred though!

I don't seem to have many different birds in my area any longer. I remember in the 70's (yes been in the same house!!) we used to have bokmakieries, woodpeckers and the grass was a mass of red bishops and females. (Note all quite easy to recognise!!)

Development - development.

Big pleasure, Cherries.

Development, yes do cause many birds to disappear. But at the same time it also draws attraction for many others. In the east of PTA we for instance have Mountain Wheatear making many of those buildings there home.

Particularly concerning is the loss of grass fields.

This one is puzzling me, I think it might be a whitethroated canary? I saw it on the S106 Rabelais loop on 10 October 2008.

Arks, your bird doesn't look like a White-throated Canary, which would be well and truly out of range and habitat. The White-throated Canary really has no yellow colouration except for the rump.

Your bird is a female Weaver of sorts but nailing it down to species might be tricky. The bill isn't quite heavy enough for Village Weaver so it would be either Southern Masked- or Lesser Masked-Weaver. Even though it is not always a clinching field mark, the seemingly dark eye would suggest Southern Masked-Weaver which is what I would go with.

Thanks, deefstes, I was really not paying proper attention when guessing the canary And as I recall (and from my notes) the other birds about were mostly blue waxbills ... so this one will have to remain a "maybe" sort of mystery.

As always, your help is much appreciated!

Can someone help me with this one?: (Taken in Satara)

Looks like Southern masked Weaver to me...