Baglafecht Weaver

The Baglafecht Weaver is a small, familiar weaver of the East African highlands, ranging from Ethiopia and Sudan south through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and into Tanzania, Malawi, and eastern DR Congo. It is one of the most frequently seen weavers around gardens, farmland edges, and forest margins in the highlands.

Plumage is bright yellow below and olive-yellow above, with a pale eye and a black area on the head that varies geographically from a small black mask around the eye to a full black cap and hindneck. Wings show a neat pattern of black feathers edged with yellow.

Several subspecies exist, and their differing head patterns caused early ornithologists to describe some as separate species (such as Reichenow's Weaver), though they are now usually treated as one variable species.

Key field marks

• Bright yellow underparts and olive-yellow back
• Pale, whitish-yellow eye, conspicuous at close range
• Black facial mask or hood, extent varies by subspecies/region
• Black wings edged neatly in yellow
• Stocky weaver bill, grey to blackish

Similar species

• Village Weaver and other Ploceus weavers are larger, more heavily built, with darker eyes and different head patterns without the pale eye.
• Spectacled Weaver has a black eye-stripe rather than a full black hood and a darker eye.
• Female and non-breeding birds are duller but retain the diagnostic pale eye, which is the most reliable mark across all forms.

Range

Found in the highlands of northeastern and eastern Africa, from Ethiopia and South Sudan south through Kenya and Uganda to Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and eastern DR Congo.

Habitat

Prefers montane and submontane habitats: forest edges, clearings, gardens, parks, cultivated land, and urban and suburban areas at elevations roughly between 1,000 and 3,000 m. It readily adapts to human-modified landscapes and is a common garden bird in cities such as Nairobi and Addis Ababa.

Movements

Generally resident and non-migratory, though some local altitudinal movement may occur.

Behavior

Active and often tame, foraging in small groups or pairs in trees, shrubs, and garden vegetation. It moves through foliage gleaning insects and will also visit flowering plants for nectar.

Voice

Gives a variety of harsh chattering and wheezy notes, along with a squeaky, buzzy song typical of weavers, often delivered while perched near the nest.

Feeding

Forages for insects and spiders among leaves and branches, and supplements its diet with nectar and soft fruit.

Nesting and breeding

Builds a neat, kidney- or oval-shaped woven nest with a downward-facing entrance, typically suspended from a thin branch or under eaves. Nests may be placed singly or in loose groups rather than dense colonies. Breeding often coincides with the rainy season, and the male performs display behavior at the nest to attract a mate.