Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus

Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus

Ghana
May 2011

Vieillot's Black Weaver is distributed in discontinuous areas from the Gambia in West Africa to Uganda and the extreme west of Kenya. It is found in forest clearings, often near human habitation, and in wooded areas and savanna.

There are two sub-species. Shown here is P. n. castaneofuscus which has chestnut-brown upperparts, belly and undertail coverts. This is found from southern Nigeria westwards. From south Nigeria eastwards we find the nominate sub-species which is completely black apart from the yellow iris and the pink-grey legs. Photo 4 shows the female.

The nest is oval with a coarse exterior and a downward-facing entrance with no tunnel. They nest in large colonies very often in mixed colonies with Village Weaver P. cucullatus and Orange Weaver P. aurantius. Like many weavers they are polyandrous with up to five females in one male territory.

Female Vieillot's Black Weaver, Kakum National Park, Ghana, May 2011 - click for larger image

Back to Index

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.