Chestnut weaver

Introduction: Chestnut weavers (Ploceus rubiginosus) inhabit riverine woodland and dry thornveld. They are a gregarious species, with single sex flocks common.

Distribution: Damaraland and Kaokoland, Etosha National Park, Epupa Falls, Tsumkwe and other isolated populations in central and northern Namibia.
Diet: Eats mainly grass seeds and nectar.

Description: Rubiginosus is a Latin word for 'rusty coloured', referring to the chestnut or golden-brown main body colouration. The tail and wings are dark brown and the eyes cinnamon-brown to orange-red.
Breeding: From 1 to 6 white, oval eggs are laid from December to May and incubated for up to 14 days. The nest is built by the male and includes a short tunnel, beneath the bottom entrance. Common nine-awned grass, bufflesgras, love grasses and bushman grasses are used to construct the nest.

Size: 14cm.

Weight: 30g.