31-12-2023 ATLANTIC BLV, GAMBIA - OLIVE NAPED WEAVER (Ploceus brachypterus)

The olive-naped weaver (Ploceus brachypterus) is a bird species in the family Ploceidae. It is found in West Africa from Senegal and Gambia to Cameroon.

The olive-naped weaver was formally described and illustrated in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson. He did not specify the origin of his specimens but they probably came from Senegal. He placed the species in the genus Ploceus and coined the binomial name Ploceus brachypterus. The specific epithet is from Ancient Greek brakhupteros meaning "short-winged".

The olive-naped weaver was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the black-necked weaver (Ploceus nigricollis). The two species differ in plumage and in the colour of the iris, but a molecular study published in 2019 found that they are genetically very similar.

The olive-naped weaver is a medium-sized bird found in West Africa with an olive-green back and nape and a slender black mask through the eye. Males have a black throat and cinnamon-brown face, while females lack the throat patch and have a prominent yellow supercilium. They inhabit various wooded areas like savannas, forests, and mangroves, and usually live alone or in pairs. Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, and insects, and they are not highly social when breeding, typically nesting solitarily. 

Identification

Size: Medium-sized weaver bird.

Color: Olive-green back and nape; pale eyes.

Mask: Slender black mask that runs through the eye.

Male: Has a black throat and a cinnamon-brown blush around the face.

Female: Lacks the black throat patch; has a prominent yellow supercilium (eyebrow) and a longer eyestripe. 

Habitat and distribution

Range: Found in West Africa, from Senegal and Gambia to Cameroon.

Habitats: Woodland, thick scrub, moist savanna, gallery forest, forest clearings, farmbush, well-wooded gardens, and plantations. 

Diet

Primary food: Seeds and small fruits from trees and shrubs.

Other food: Insects, particularly in warmer months.

Foraging: Feeds on both winged insects and forages for fruit on the ground. 

Behavior and breeding

Social: Usually seen alone or in pairs.

Nesting: Unlike many other weavers, they are not highly social when breeding and typically nest solitarily, or only in small, loosely packed colonies.

Nests: Males build the nests to attract females, using plant fibers or twigs. They may reuse the same nesting site in consecutive seasons. 

Vocalizations

Typical weaver calls include "chet" notes and a "sizzling, radio static" song. 

22-12-2023 FARASUTU FOREST, GAMBIA - OLIVE NAPED WEAVER (Ploceus brachypterus)

The olive-naped weaver (Ploceus brachypterus) is a bird species in the family Ploceidae. It is found in West Africa from Senegal and Gambia to Cameroon.

The olive-naped weaver was formally described and illustrated in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson. He did not specify the origin of his specimens but they probably came from Senegal. He placed the species in the genus Ploceus and coined the binomial name Ploceus brachypterus. The specific epithet is from Ancient Greek brakhupteros meaning "short-winged".

The olive-naped weaver was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the black-necked weaver (Ploceus nigricollis). The two species differ in plumage and in the colour of the iris, but a molecular study published in 2019 found that they are genetically very similar.

A medium-sized, pale-eyed weaver in which males and females are distinctly different, but both are colorful. Note olive-green back and nape and slender black mask through the eye. Male has a black throat and cinnamon-brown blush around the face. Found in woodland, thick scrub, moist savanna, gallery forest, and forest clearings and edge. Usually alone or in pairs. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chet” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song. Formerly treated as the same species as Black-naped Weaver, under the name “Black-necked Weaver.” 

21-12-2022 KOTU, GAMBIA - OLIVE NAPED WEAVER (Ploceus brachypterus)

The olive-naped weaver (Ploceus brachypterus) is a bird species in the family Ploceidae. It is found in West Africa from Senegal and Gambia to Camaroon.

The olive-naped weaver was formally described and illustrated in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson. He did not specify the origin of his specimens but they probably came from Senegal. He placed the species in the genus Ploceus and coined the binomial name Ploceus brachypterus. The specific epithet is from Ancient Greek brakhupteros meaning "short-winged".

The olive-naped weaver was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the black-necked weaver (Ploceus nigricollis). The two species differ in plumage and in the colour of the iris, but a molecular study published in 2019 found that they are genetically very similar.