Family Ploceidae

Ploceidae is a family of small passerine birds, many of which are called Weavers, Weaverbirds, Weaver Finches, or Bishops. These names come from the nests of intricately woven vegetation created by birds in this family. In most recent classifications, the Ploceidae are a clade that excludes some birds that have historically been placed in the family, such as some of the sparrows, but which includes the monotypic subfamily Amblyospizinae. The family is believed to have originated in the mid-Miocene. All birds of the Ploceidae are native to the Old World, most in Africa south of the Sahara, though a few live in tropical areas of Asia. A few species have been introduced outside their native range.

The greater Bangkok metropolitan area is home to three species of weavers - Streaked Weavers, Asian Golden Weavers and Baya Weavers. The Baya Weavers in particular create the most intricate and spectacular nests, often with hundreds in a single tree. I have spent much time watching the “competition” of the nests where the females closely inspect the nests of prospective mates to see who is the most skilled architect.

In this gallery you will find examples of some of the Bishops and Widowbirds I have been lucky enough to have seen during my expeditions in Africa. These are spectacular birds worthy of better photography than I accomplished.

Please feel free to correct any misidentifications - I am sure there are many as I do find this group particularly challenging to determine ID and often relied on maps and vague morphological descriptions….and we all know how that goes!