Birdwatching in Africa - Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht


The Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) is a species of weaver bird from the family Ploceidae which is found in eastern and central Africa. There are several disjunct populations with distinguishable plumage patterns. Only some races display a discrete non-breeding plumage.

Distribution and habitat
It is found in central, eastern, and south-eastern Africa. It is found in forest edge, woodlands, gardens and towns.

Distribution - From OPUS www.birdforum.net
Africa:
Western Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo
Eastern Africa: South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi

Range map from www.oiseaux.net

Range map
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.net is one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there


Taxonomy and systematics
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.

Subspecies The following races are currently recognised:

• P. b. baglafecht - (Daudin, 1802): Found in the Ethiopian highlands and southern Eritrea

• P. b. neumanni - (Bannerman, 1923): Found in eastern Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic

• P. b. eremobius - (Hartlaub & Emin, 1887): Found in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and south-western South Sudan

• Emin's weaver (P. b. emini) - (Hartlaub, 1882): Found in south-eastern South Sudan, south-western Ethiopia and northern Uganda

• Reichenow's weaver (P. b. reichenowi) - (Fischer, GA, 1884): Found in eastern Uganda, Kenyan highlands and northern Tanzania

• Stuhlmann's weaver (P. b. stuhlmanni) - (Reichenow, 1893): Found from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to southern Uganda and western Tanzania

• P. b. sharpii - (Shelley, 1898): Found in montane forests of southern and south-western Tanzania

• P. b. nyikae - (Benson, 1938): Found in Nyika Plateau of north-eastern Zambia and northern Malawi


Description
The baglafecht weaver has a length of 15 cm.

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.

Length:
15 cm
Wingspan:
Weight:
24 - 37 g
Longevity:
Distinctive Feature
Similar Species


From opus at www.birdforum.net the forum for wild birds and birding.



Female VS Male

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Female on top and male below
Ethiopia - October 2019




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.

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

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - November 2019

Behaviour and ecology
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.

Listen to the Baglafecht Weaver
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Thanks to David Moyer for ID help!


Sound from www.xeno-canto.org



Conservation status
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.birdforum.net


Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use) 26 October 2019
Location: Ethio-German Park Hotel, Debre Libanos, Ethiopia


Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Male Baglafecht Weaver - 26 October 2019 - Ethio-German Park Hotel, Debre Libanos, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Male Baglafecht Weaver - 26 October 2019 - Ethio-German Park Hotel, Debre Libanos, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Male Baglafecht Weaver - 26 October 2019 - Ethio-German Park Hotel, Debre Libanos, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Female Baglafecht Weaver - 26 October 2019 - Ethio-German Park Hotel, Debre Libanos, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Female Baglafecht Weaver - 26 October 2019 - Ethio-German Park Hotel, Debre Libanos, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver - 12 November 2019 - Sheraton Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver - 12 November 2019 - Sheraton Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Baglafecht Weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
Noon breeding male Baglafecht Weaver - 12 November 2019 - Sheraton Addis Ababa, Ethiopia



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