Ploceus cucullatus Village Weaver Bontrugwewer
Bokpoort, Nov 2017
This is the typical race in the Waterberg,
Ploceus cucullatus spilonotus
A breeding resident. Common and widespread across the Waterberg, less frequent in the surrounding thorn savanna (70% in, 30% out; recorded in 73% of the Waterberg pentads); a gregarious, colonial-breeding species - in summer its occurrence is tied to the sites it selects for its breeding colonies; these may comprise hundreds of nests and can be located in Phragmites redbeds or, more commonly, in tall, lone-standing trees in towns or around farmsteads; sites are commonly reused year after year; in winter flocks range widely. Breeds in summer.
This is the typical race in the Waterberg,
Ploceus cucullatus spilonotus
A breeding resident. Common and widespread across the Waterberg, less frequent in the surrounding thorn savanna (70% in, 30% out; recorded in 73% of the Waterberg pentads); a gregarious, colonial-breeding species - in summer its occurrence is tied to the sites it selects for its breeding colonies; these may comprise hundreds of nests and can be located in Phragmites redbeds or, more commonly, in tall, lone-standing trees in towns or around farmsteads; sites are commonly reused year after year; in winter flocks range widely. Breeds in summer.
Modimolle, Sep 2017
This is the tropical race of this species,
Ploceus cucullatus nigriceps and small numbers of these dark headed birds occur in the Waterberg alongside the typical race.
Snyspruit, Nov 2017
Mobbing a python that is raiding nests,
visible lower right.