Ploceidae – Weavers, Widowbirds & Allies
The Ploceidae (Weavers, Fodies, Bishops, Quela, Widowbirds, & Malimbes), otherwise known as the weavers family, are small passerines related to the finches, native to the old-world.
They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which are from Sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia. A few species have been introduced outside their native range. The weaver group is divided into the buffalo, sparrow, typical, and widow weavers. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black. Some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.
The genus Malimbus was originally introduced (1805) by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot to accommodate a single species, the Crested Malimbe Malibus cristatus. That genus now contains ten species.
|
|
|
|
Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus |
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura |
|
|
|
|
Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis |
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens |
|
All photographs on this page courtesy of ©Dubi Shapiro unless otherwise attributed |
|
The Fodies are only found on Madagascar and other islands in the same area. They are typically found in forest, woodland or scrubland but some also occur in man-made habitats, especially the Red Fody. Some species feed mainly on seeds while others are largely insectivorous. Live other weavers, Fodies build a dome-shaped nest of grass and other plant material. It has a side-opening and it is suspended from a branch or palm leaf.
|
|
|
|
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps |
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius |
|
|
|
|
Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda |
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus |
The Euplectes genus contains some of the most colourful and charismatic Ploceidae. Most widowbirds are long-tailed and flourish their tails in displays to attract mates or deter rivals. The bishops, while more compact, are mostly even more colourful.
|
|
|
|
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus |
White-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris |
|
|
|
|
Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava |
Compact Weaver Pachyphantes superciliosus |
Weaver birds, also known as weaver finches, get their name because of their elaborately woven nests (the most elaborate of any birds’), though some are notable for their selective parasitic nesting habits. Weavers are famous for the intricacy of the knots they make with green grass, resulting, once dried, in remarkably robust and coherent structures.
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne
The nests vary in size, shape, material used, and construction techniques from species to species. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf fibres, grass, and twigs. Many species weave very fine nests using thin strands of leaf fibre, though some, like the buffalo-weavers, form massive untidy stick nests in colonies, which may have spherical woven nests within.
Taveta Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli
The sparrow weavers of Africa build apartment-house nests, in which 100 to 300 pairs have separate flask-shaped chambers entered by tubes at the bottom. Most species weave nests that have narrow entrances, facing downward. Beyond the nests, themselves, though, this is a fascinating group, with some of the most diverse social and mating systems of any passerine groups. Coloniality is common in these birds, but the most impressive colonial passerines are surely the red-billed queleas, which move across the seasonally unpredictable landscape of southern Africa in search of sufficient germinating grasses to fuel a breeding attempt.
|
|
|
|
Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus |
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus |
|
The two photos above courtesy of ©Nick Ludovic Green Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA |
|
Many weaver species are gregarious and breed colonially. The birds build their nests together for protection, often several to a branch. Usually, the male birds weave the nests and use them as a form of display to lure prospective females. The weaver bird colonies may be found close to water bodies. They sometimes cause crop damage, notably the Red-billed Quelea, reputed to be the world’s most numerous bird. They may descend on the woods and fields, making overnight a colony of 30 million nests, and going through their entire breeding cycle in as little as 40 days before moving on.
-
Number of bird species: 122
(As at January 2026)
According to the recently (2025) amalgamated AviList, there are one hundred and twenty-two species, in sixteen genera in the Ploceidae family. They are:
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
Scaly-feathered Weaver Sporopipes squamifrons
Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius
Black-capped Social Weaver Psuedonigrita cabanisi
Grey-capped Social Weaver Psuedonigrita arnaudi
White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser superciliosus
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser rufoscapulatus
Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser donaldsoni
White-headed Buffalo Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
White-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger
Yellow-legged Weaver Ploceus flavipes
Bertram’s Weaver Ploceus bertrandi
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
Black-chinned Weaver Ploceus nigrimentus
Bannerman’s Weaver Ploceus bannermani
Bates’s Weaver Ploceus batesi
Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
Slender-billed Weaver Ploceus pelzelni
Loango Weaver Ploceus subpersonatus
Olive-naped Weaver Ploceus brachypterus
Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster
Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis
Bocage’s Weaver Ploceus temporalis
Eastern Golden Weaver Ploceus subaureus
Holub’s Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius
Golden Palm Weaver Ploceus bojeri
Taveta Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
Principe Weaver Ploceus princeps
Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops
Kilombero Weaver Ploceus burnieri
Ruvu Weaver Ploceus holoxanthus
Northern Masked Weaver Ploceus taeniopterus
Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius
Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus
Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus
Tanzanian Masked Weaver Ploceus reichardi
Katanga Masked Weaver Ploceus katangae
Lufira Masked Weaver Ploceus ruweti
Heuglin’s Masked Weaver Ploceus heuglini
Rüppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula
Speke’s Weaver Ploceus spekei
Fox’s Weaver Ploceus spekeoides
Chestnut-and-Black Weaver Ploceus castaneofuscus
Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Giant Weaver Ploceus grandis
Weyns’s Weaver Ploceus weynsi
Clarke’s Weaver Ploceus golandi
Juba Weaver Ploceus dichrocephalus
Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni
Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus
Cinnamon Weaver Ploceus badius
Golden-naped Weaver Ploceus aureonucha
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor
Maxwell’s Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha
Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis
Yellow-capped Weaver Ploceus dorsomaculatus
Preuss’s Weaver Ploceus preussi
Olive-headed Weaver Ploceus olivaceiceps
Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli
Bar-winged Weaver Ploceus angolensis
Sao Tome Weaver Ploceus sanctithomae
Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi
Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava
Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus
Finn’s Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus
Black-breasted Weaver Ploceus benghalensis
Compact Weaver Pachyphantes superciliosus
Cardinal Quelea Quelea cardinalis
Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis
Aldabra Fody Foudia aldabrana
Comoros Fody Foudia eminentissima
Forest Fody Foudia omissa
Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra
Seychelles Fody Foudia sechellarum
Rodrigues Fody Foudia flavicans
Bob-tailed Weaver Brachycope anomala
Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
Zanzibar Red Bishop Euplectes nigroventris
Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii
Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer
Fire-fronted Bishop Euplectes diadematus
Golden-backed Bishop Euplectes aureus
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura
Red-cowled Widowbird Euplectes laticauda
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
Marsh Widowbird Euplectes hartlaubi
Montane Widowbird Euplectes psammacromius
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne
Jackson’s Widowbird Euplectes jacksoni
Red Weaver Anaplectes jubaensis
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Red-crowned Malimbe Malimbus coronatus
Cassin’s Malimbe Malimbus cassini
Gola Malimbe Malimbus ballmanni
Rachel’s Malimbe Malimbus racheliae
Red-vented Malimbe Malimbus scutatus
Ibadan Malimbe Malimbus ibadanensis
Red-bellied Malimbe Malimbus erythrogaster
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis
-
Ploceidae
Family AccountThe weavers live in a wide variety of open or semi-open habitats, including marshes, open forest, scrubland, grassland, and savanna. -
Ploceidae
Family AccountPloceidae is a family of small passerine birds, many of which are called weavers, weaverbirds, weaver finches, or bishops.
Given the number of species in this family, Fatbirder does not provide quick links to all of them. However, the entries below do include links to representatives of every genera, all those illustrated and some of the most often encountered, iconic or sought-after species.
-
Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus
Species AccountThe Asian golden weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
Species AccountThe baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaverbird found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. -
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Black-capped Social Weaver Psuedonigrita cabanisi
Species AccountThe black-capped social weaver (Pseudonigrita cabanisi) is a sparrow-like species of bird that has been assigned to the... -
Black-capped Social Weaver Psuedonigrita cabanisi
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Species AccountThe black-winged red bishop (Euplectes hordeaceus), formerly known in southern Africa as the fire-crowned bishop, is a resident breeding bird species in tropical Africa from Senegal to Sudan and south to Angola, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. -
Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens
Species AccountThe blue-billed malimbe or Gray's malimbe (Malimbus nitens) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Bob-tailed Weaver Brachycope anomala
Species AccountA small odd finch-like weaver with a short stubby tail. Breeding male has a yellowish crown and breast and a black face mask. -
Bob-tailed Weaver Brachycope anomala
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Chestnut-and-Black Weaver Ploceus castaneofuscus
Species AccountMales have an unusual and distinctive coloration: mostly black, with a chestnut back and belly. Females are brownish-olive, with paler underparts, and a rufous tinge to the rump. -
Chestnut-and-Black Weaver Ploceus castaneofuscus
Species AccountThe chestnut-and-black weaver (Ploceus castaneofuscus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Compact Weaver Pachyphantes superciliosus
Species AccountThe compact weaver (Pachyphantes superciliosus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Pachyphantes. -
Compact Weaver Pachyphantes superciliosus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus
Species AccountThe crested malimbe (Malimbus malimbicus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne
Species AccountThe long-tailed widowbird (Euplectes progne) is a species of bird in the weaver family Ploceidae. -
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius
Species AccountThe orange weaver (Ploceus aurantius) is a species of bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae. It is sparsely distributed across African tropical rainforest. -
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis
Species AccountThe red fody (Foudia madagascariensis), also known as the Madagascar fody in Madagascar... -
Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Red-billed Buffalo-weaver Bubalornis niger
Species AccountThe red-billed buffalo weaver (Bubalornis niger) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is the dry savanna. -
Red-billed Buffalo-weaver Bubalornis niger
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops
Species AccountThe red-headed quelea (Quelea erythrops) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Species AccountThe red-headed weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) is a bird commonly found in eastern and southern Africa... -
Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda
Species AccountThe rufous-tailed weaver (Histurgops ruficauda) is a species of songbird found in Tanzania. It is included in the weaver family (Ploceidae). -
Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava
Species AccountThe Sakalava weaver (Ploceus sakalava) sometimes known as the Sakalava fody is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius
Species AccountThe sociable weaver (Philetairus socius) is a species of bird in the weaver family, endemic to Southern Africa. -
Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
Species AccountThe speckle-fronted weaver (Sporopipes frontalis) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Taveta Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
Species AccountThe Taveta weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps), also known as the Taveta golden weaver, (or the mango bird) is a species of bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae. -
Taveta Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Species AccountThe thick-billed weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons), or grosbeak weaver, is a distinctive and bold species of weaver bird that is native to the Afrotropics. -
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli
Species AccountThe Usambara weaver (Ploceus nicolli) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. -
Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
Species AccountVieillot's black weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. -
Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Species AccountThe village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver is a bird species in the family Ploceidae -
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
White-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris
Species AccountThe white-billed buffalo weaver (Bubalornis albirostris) is a resident breeding bird species in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. -
White-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali
Species AccountThe white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali) is a predominantly brown, sparrow-sized bird found throughout central and north-central southern Africa. -
White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
White-headed Buffalo Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
Species AccountThe white-headed buffalo weaver or white-faced buffalo-weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli) is a species of passerine bird in the family Ploceidae native to East Africa. -
White-headed Buffalo Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
Species AccountThe yellow bishop, Cape bishop, Cape widow[2] or yellow-rumped widow (Euplectes capensis) is a resident breeding bird species in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. -
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura
Species AccountThe yellow-mantled widowbird (Euplectes macroura), also known as the yellow-backed widow, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is the type species of the Euplectes genus, originally named from the city of Ouidah in Benin. Nowadays the name whydah (from "Ouidah") is however applied to some species in the Viduidae. -
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura
Species AccountEuplectes macroura is listed as Least Concern. -
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map.