White browed sparrow weaver

Introduction: White-browed sparrow weavers (Plocepasser mahali) can be found in a number of savannah type habitats which includes mopane, forest, thornbush, as well as mixed tree and shrub and woodland. Group observations of up to 10 are fairly common, aside from singly or in pairs.

Distribution: Throughout the country less for western coastal and Namib Desert and southern Namibian ranges.
Diet: Forages in social groups. Eats termites, ants, beetles, crickets and bugs. Also takes mostly seeds from grasses such as bushman and signal grasses. Diet includes fruit and leaves.

Description: A medium-sized sparrow-like weaver with characteristic head stripes and a slender bill. Spotted or plain upper breast, brown wings and a white rump.

Breeding: Nests are made from grass stems, tunnel shaped with an entrance at each end or just the one way in. Plocepasser is a combination of Placeus 'weavers' and Passer 'sparrows'. From 1 to 3 eggs are laid in most months of the year, less for July and August and incubated by the female only for around 14 days.

Size: 17cm.

Weight: 45g