859:). The roofed nests have thick walls and are constructed from grass straws, which, in the dry climate keep well for many months. Nest are often constructed with two or three side-to-side or under old nests. One of the two entrances is closed just before the eggs are laid and opened again around the moment of fledging. The clutch consists of four eggs. They are approximately 19 mm (0.75 in) in length and 14 mm (0.55 in) in diameter, greenish, bluish or white, unadorned or with fine black or olive colored specks, more dense at thick end, or so heavily blotched that the overall color seems olive-brown or ash-grey. Both parents incubate the eggs but the female spends about twice as much time incubating as the male. The eggs hatch after thirteen or fourteen days. The nestlings are initially fed on a diet consisting exclusively of insects, and grass seeds are only given during the last days. Fledging occurs after about twenty days. Adult and adolescent birds from previous broods often help in nest building and feeding the chicks.
941:
791:
783:
926:
31:
956:
80:
202:
55:
242:, with a pale grey crown, a dark grey bill, a whitish eye-ring, horn-colored legs, with some black in the wing and a light terminal band in the tail, that builds roofed nests made of straws, breeds in colonies in thorny Acacia trees, and feeds in groups gathering grass seeds and insects. Male and female have near identical plumage.
862:
Roofed nests, with two downward-facing nest entrances, colony nesting, and choosing a thorny nesting tree, are all considered adaptations that help limit predation. Aggregated nests, thick walls and communal sleeping are considered adaptations against the cold nights in the arid distribution area of
766:
The grey-capped social weaver is small for a weaver with 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in) long, and it weighs 15–26 g (0.53–0.92 oz). It is a sparrow-like liver-colored bird, with a pale grey crown, a dark grey bill, a whitish eye-ring, horn-colored legs, with some black in the wing and a
817:
tree housing the colony. However, birds from other trees were usually attacked when landing in the colony tree. The order in which birds are allowed to feed was according to dominance, although members from other families from the same colony where better tolerated than birds from other colonies.
901:
only starts breeding when in larger established groups (at least about ten pairs). It needs large and high cages, and thin branches to attach the nest and much suitable nesting material (grass straws) needs to be available. A specialised website suggest a ground cover of sand beneath the nesting
834:
Grey-capped social weavers breed colonially. The nests are not only used for breeding but also for fully grown birds to sleep in at night. Breeding takes place throughout the year, but there is a peak that enables the birds to make use of periods that food is plenty, such as between August and
812:
In studies conducted in Kenya, some individuals were observed to rest in their nests year round, even outside the breeding periods, with two to five together. The immediate surroundings of the nests were generally not defended against birds from other families that nested or slept in the same
914:, need to be provided. Due to its large demand in nesting material, excessive theft may occur if other Plocepasserinae-species are kept in the same confinement. This website also suggests to compose a group at one instance and not to introduce other birds later, particularly during breeding.
767:
light terminal band in the for a weaver relatively short tail. The tail band is visible during flight. The cap of the adult male is almost white, that of females more light grey. Adolescents have a duller plumage, a brown bill, and the cap is light liver-colored.
1159:
De Silva, Thilina N.; Peterson, A. Townsend; Bates, John M.; Fernandoa, Sumudu W.; Girard, Matthew G. (2017). "Phylogenetic relationships of weaverbirds (Aves: Ploceidae): A first robust phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers".
902:
branches, and grass elsewhere, inter-planted with a few very resistant shrubs. Adults fare well on a diet of 95% seeds and 5% insects, but during the breeding season about 20% of the food should consist of living insects, such as
826:
The grey-capped social weaver feeds on both grass seeds and insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles, termites and caterpillars. Feeding mostly takes place in groups at some distance from the colony.
1683:
1562:
1601:
940:
1668:
279:
727:, the central highlands of Kenya southwards to a strip in Tanzania between Speke Gulf (a continuation of Lake Victoria at it southeastern corner) and
1536:
1575:
1243:
347:
1304:
1277:
1678:
1294:
1580:
835:
December in South Sudan and between March and May in eastern Africa. Nests are built hanging from thin branches, often in
79:
925:
1047:
1606:
1125:
1452:
259:
191:
1214:
837:
267:
790:
782:
1673:
1487:
1414:
531:
364:
359:
955:
420:
174:
1004:
1479:
1461:
616:
312:
374:
belongs to the group of sparrow weavers (subfamily
Plocepasserinae), and is most closely related to
849:
44:
30:
1394:
1348:
843:
728:
507:
376:
350:(IOC). Other common names include grey-headed social weaver and Masai grey-headed social weaver.
339:
324:
209:
74:
1567:
731:, and a few isolated populations in the very south-west corner of Sudan (South Darfur), around
1627:
1593:
1510:
1466:
1300:
1273:
1177:
855:
318:
1632:
1169:
1129:
999:
878:
870:
1492:
712:
Three subspecies of the grey-capped social weaver are recognised. The southerly subspecies
1614:
803:
333:
306:
283:
981:
770:
The birds make long series of seven to ten high-pitched piercing squeaks, sounding like
1645:
736:
732:
329:
1662:
1588:
1206:)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.).
990:
754:
746:
370:
288:
250:. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
243:
151:
64:
59:
1030:
1515:
391:
381:
201:
1502:
877:) sometimes drive grey-capped social weavers from their nests to take them over.
1549:
1446:
1173:
799:
750:
724:
483:
386:
1437:
1640:
1133:
911:
894:
723:
can be found from eastern South-Sudan and neighboring northern Uganda, around
633:
459:
275:
1296:
Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and
Socotra
1094:
405:
301:
247:
141:
131:
91:
1181:
841:, and sometimes in other acacia species such as the umbrella thorn acacia (
1619:
1431:
1270:
Birds of the Horn of Africa
Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Socotra
907:
903:
111:
1541:
1474:
1398:
1352:
716:
can be distinguished by its bluish grey instead of livery brown back.
1554:
101:
1528:
1408:
398:-species is correct, the following tree expresses current insights.
270:, the French explorer who had collected a specimen around 1841 near
1523:
1378:
1336:
789:
781:
818:
Aggression was rare or absent between members of the same group.
346:
in 1863. The "grey-capped social weaver" is the name used by the
1337:"Weaverbird nest aggregation and evolution of the compound nest"
271:
239:
121:
1412:
910:. Fine stone grit and calcium sources, such as shell grit and
798:
The grey-capped social weaver is monogamous and breeds in
1055:
745:
occurs in
Tanzania, in a zone between the south shore of
1293:
Redman, Nigel; Stevenson, Terry; Fanshawe, John (2010).
1268:
Redman, Nigel; Stevenson, Terry; Fanshawe, John (2009).
1035:(in Latin). Lugduni Batavorum : E.J. Brill. p. 444.
1421:
1103:Weaver Watch - Monitoring the Weavers of the World
1005:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22718718A94593477.en
1377:Collias, Nicholas E.; Collias, Elsie C. (1980).
1335:Collias, Nicholas E.; Collias, Elsie C. (1977).
286:assigned the species to his newly erected genus
266:in 1850. He chose the specific epithet to honor
362:study published in 2017 (which did not include
1202:Craig, A. (2017). "Grey-capped Social-weaver (
802:. Its behavior closely resembles that of the
8:
1379:"Behavior of the Grey-Capped Social Weaver (
897:by hobbyists. Due to its social structure,
893:The grey-capped social weaver is sometimes
753:, and an isolated population just south of
262:described the grey-capped social weaver as
1409:
1134:"Old World sparrows, snowfinches, weavers"
200:
53:
29:
20:
1272:. London: Christopher Helm. p. 304.
1003:
1208:Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive
1048:"Der kleine Schwarzkopf-Sperlingsweber"
972:
921:
1684:Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte
1372:
1370:
1368:
1366:
1364:
1362:
1330:
1328:
1326:
1324:
1322:
1238:
1236:
1234:
1232:
1230:
1197:
1195:
1193:
1191:
348:International Ornithological Committee
1162:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
1140:. International Ornithologists' Union
1120:
1118:
1024:
1022:
7:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1081:
1079:
1077:
1075:
735:in southernmost Ethiopia and around
1669:IUCN Red List least concern species
1244:"Marmerwever Pseudonigrita arnaudi"
991:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
885:) however only use deserted nests.
608:
600:
523:
499:
475:
451:
443:
436:
411:
401:
1029:Bonaparte, Charles Lucien (1850).
238:) is a sparrow-like liver-colored
14:
1138:IOC World Bird List Version 11.1
954:
939:
924:
282:. In 1903, the German zoologist
280:French Museum of Natural History
78:
980:BirdLife International (2016).
786:Arriving with building material
1:
1046:Boetticher, Hans von (1942).
794:Nest with two entrances below
1215:"Grey-capped Social-weaver"
1210:. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
1174:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.013
1095:"Grey-headed Social Weaver
708:Subspecies and distribution
304:), while the other species
246:confirms it is part of the
1700:
895:kept and bred in captivity
24:Grey-capped social weaver
1299:. Bloomsbury Publishing.
657:
630:
613:
606:
598:
545:
528:
521:
504:
497:
480:
473:
456:
449:
441:
434:
417:
409:
230:grey-capped social weaver
215:
208:
199:
180:
173:
75:Scientific classification
73:
51:
42:
37:
28:
23:
1248:Werkgroep voor Ploceidae
1032:Conspectus generum avium
998:: e.T22718718A94593477.
772:tseeer-tseeer-tseeer-...
300:related to weaverbirds (
292:, because he considered
260:Charles Lucien Bonaparte
1679:Birds described in 1850
1132:, eds. (January 2021).
838:Vachellia drepanolobium
795:
787:
659:all other weaverbirds
532:Pseudonigrita cabanisi
360:molecular phylogenetic
258:The French naturalist
1646:Pseudonigrita-arnaudi
1467:Pseudonigrita_arnaudi
1453:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
1423:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
1381:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
1204:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
1097:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
984:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
793:
785:
549:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
421:Amblyospiza albifrons
278:, and sent it to the
235:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
184:Pseudonigrita arnaudi
739:in southern Somalia.
617:Dinemellia dinemelli
390:. Provided that the
268:Joseph Pons d'Arnaud
850:Senegalia mellifera
743:P. arnaudi dorsalis
392:sister relationship
45:Conservation status
38:In Amboseli, Kenya
1128:; Donsker, David;
879:Cut-throat finches
807:Philetairus socius
796:
788:
729:Mount Kilimandjaro
721:P. arnaudi arnaudi
508:Philetairus socius
377:Philetairus socius
340:Ludwig Reichenbach
1656:
1655:
1628:Open Tree of Life
1415:Taxon identifiers
1130:Rasmussen, Pamela
871:Chestnut sparrows
853:) or gum acacia (
704:
703:
695:
694:
686:
685:
677:
676:
668:
667:
645:
644:
587:
586:
578:
577:
569:
568:
560:
559:
334:estrildid finches
226:
225:
68:
1691:
1649:
1648:
1636:
1635:
1623:
1622:
1610:
1609:
1597:
1596:
1584:
1583:
1571:
1570:
1558:
1557:
1545:
1544:
1532:
1531:
1519:
1518:
1506:
1505:
1496:
1495:
1483:
1482:
1480:573C3683AB1AFA40
1470:
1469:
1457:
1456:
1455:
1442:
1441:
1440:
1410:
1403:
1402:
1374:
1357:
1356:
1332:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1313:
1290:
1284:
1283:
1265:
1259:
1258:
1256:
1255:
1240:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1211:
1199:
1186:
1185:
1156:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1145:
1122:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1091:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1066:
1052:
1043:
1037:
1036:
1026:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1012:
1007:
977:
958:
943:
928:
883:Amadina fasciata
609:
604:Bubalornithinae
601:
524:
500:
476:
452:
447:Plocepasserinae
444:
437:
412:
402:
380:. This clade is
332:assigned to the
204:
186:
83:
82:
62:
57:
56:
33:
21:
1699:
1698:
1694:
1693:
1692:
1690:
1689:
1688:
1659:
1658:
1657:
1652:
1644:
1639:
1631:
1626:
1618:
1615:Observation.org
1613:
1605:
1600:
1592:
1587:
1579:
1574:
1566:
1561:
1553:
1548:
1540:
1535:
1527:
1522:
1514:
1509:
1501:
1499:
1491:
1486:
1478:
1473:
1465:
1460:
1451:
1450:
1445:
1436:
1435:
1430:
1417:
1407:
1406:
1376:
1375:
1360:
1334:
1333:
1320:
1311:
1309:
1307:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1280:
1267:
1266:
1262:
1253:
1251:
1242:
1241:
1228:
1219:
1217:
1213:
1201:
1200:
1189:
1158:
1157:
1153:
1143:
1141:
1124:
1123:
1116:
1107:
1105:
1093:
1092:
1073:
1064:
1062:
1050:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1028:
1027:
1020:
1010:
1008:
979:
978:
974:
969:
962:
959:
950:
944:
935:
929:
920:
891:
875:Passer eminibey
847:), blackthorn (
832:
824:
804:sociable weaver
780:
764:
710:
705:
696:
687:
678:
669:
646:
588:
579:
570:
561:
415:Amblyospizinae
356:
344:Arnauds nigrita
313:N. canicapillus
307:Nigrita bicolor
284:Anton Reichenow
264:Nigrita arnaudi
256:
219:Nigrita arnaudi
195:
188:
182:
169:
166:P. arnaudi
77:
69:
58:
54:
47:
17:
16:Species of bird
12:
11:
5:
1697:
1695:
1687:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1661:
1660:
1654:
1653:
1651:
1650:
1637:
1624:
1611:
1598:
1585:
1572:
1559:
1546:
1533:
1520:
1507:
1497:
1484:
1471:
1458:
1443:
1427:
1425:
1419:
1418:
1413:
1405:
1404:
1393:(2): 213–226.
1358:
1318:
1305:
1285:
1278:
1260:
1226:
1187:
1151:
1114:
1071:
1038:
1018:
971:
970:
968:
965:
964:
963:
960:
953:
951:
945:
938:
936:
930:
923:
919:
916:
890:
887:
831:
828:
823:
820:
779:
776:
763:
760:
759:
758:
740:
709:
706:
702:
701:
698:
697:
693:
692:
689:
688:
684:
683:
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679:
675:
674:
671:
670:
666:
665:
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652:
651:
648:
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643:
642:
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638:
629:
626:
625:
622:
621:
612:
607:
605:
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597:
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593:
590:
589:
585:
584:
581:
580:
576:
575:
572:
571:
567:
566:
563:
562:
558:
557:
554:
553:
544:
541:
540:
537:
536:
527:
522:
520:
517:
516:
513:
512:
503:
498:
496:
493:
492:
489:
488:
479:
474:
472:
469:
468:
465:
464:
455:
450:
448:
442:
440:
435:
433:
430:
429:
426:
425:
416:
410:
408:
400:
355:
352:
255:
252:
224:
223:
222:
221:
213:
212:
206:
205:
197:
196:
189:
178:
177:
171:
170:
163:
161:
157:
156:
149:
145:
144:
139:
135:
134:
129:
125:
124:
119:
115:
114:
109:
105:
104:
99:
95:
94:
89:
85:
84:
71:
70:
52:
49:
48:
43:
40:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1696:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1674:Pseudonigrita
1672:
1670:
1667:
1666:
1664:
1647:
1642:
1638:
1634:
1629:
1625:
1621:
1616:
1612:
1608:
1603:
1599:
1595:
1590:
1586:
1582:
1577:
1573:
1569:
1564:
1560:
1556:
1551:
1547:
1543:
1538:
1534:
1530:
1525:
1521:
1517:
1512:
1508:
1504:
1498:
1494:
1489:
1485:
1481:
1476:
1472:
1468:
1463:
1459:
1454:
1448:
1444:
1439:
1433:
1429:
1428:
1426:
1424:
1420:
1416:
1411:
1400:
1396:
1392:
1388:
1384:
1382:
1373:
1371:
1369:
1367:
1365:
1363:
1359:
1354:
1350:
1346:
1342:
1338:
1331:
1329:
1327:
1325:
1323:
1319:
1308:
1306:9781408135761
1302:
1298:
1297:
1289:
1286:
1281:
1279:9781408135761
1275:
1271:
1264:
1261:
1249:
1245:
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1233:
1231:
1227:
1216:
1209:
1205:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1192:
1188:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1171:
1167:
1163:
1155:
1152:
1139:
1135:
1131:
1127:
1121:
1119:
1115:
1104:
1100:
1098:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1082:
1080:
1078:
1076:
1072:
1060:
1057:(in German).
1056:
1049:
1042:
1039:
1034:
1033:
1025:
1023:
1019:
1006:
1001:
997:
993:
992:
987:
985:
976:
973:
966:
957:
952:
949:
942:
937:
934:
927:
922:
917:
915:
913:
909:
905:
900:
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888:
886:
884:
880:
876:
872:
868:
866:
860:
858:
857:
852:
851:
846:
845:
840:
839:
829:
827:
821:
819:
816:
810:
808:
805:
801:
792:
784:
777:
775:
773:
768:
761:
756:
755:Dar es Salaam
752:
748:
747:Lake Victoria
744:
741:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
719:
718:
717:
715:
707:
700:
699:
691:
690:
682:
681:
673:
672:
664:
663:
660:
654:
653:
650:
649:
641:
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637:
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635:
628:
627:
624:
623:
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619:
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595:
592:
591:
583:
582:
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573:
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556:
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543:
542:
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538:
535:
534:
533:
526:
525:
519:
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511:
510:
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491:
490:
487:
486:
485:
478:
477:
471:
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461:
454:
453:
446:
445:
439:
438:
432:
431:
428:
427:
424:
423:
422:
414:
413:
407:
404:
403:
399:
397:
396:Pseudonigrita
393:
389:
388:
383:
379:
378:
373:
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371:Pseudonigrita
368:), the genus
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153:Pseudonigrita
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132:Passeriformes
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60:Least Concern
50:
46:
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36:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1422:
1390:
1386:
1380:
1347:(1): 50–64.
1344:
1340:
1310:. Retrieved
1295:
1288:
1269:
1263:
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1247:
1218:. Retrieved
1207:
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1161:
1154:
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1137:
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1102:
1096:
1063:. Retrieved
1061:(2): 207–210
1058:
1054:
1041:
1031:
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995:
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749:to north of
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394:between the
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330:negrofinches
323:
319:N. fusconota
317:
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244:DNA-analysis
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18:
1550:iNaturalist
1447:Wikispecies
1383:) in Kenya"
1144:20 February
1126:Gill, Frank
1011:12 November
844:V. tortilis
762:Description
751:Lake Malawi
725:Mount Elgon
484:Plocepasser
387:Plocepasser
365:P. cabanisi
358:Based on a
298:P. cabanisi
1663:Categories
1641:Xeno-canto
1312:2017-04-17
1254:2017-04-10
1250:(in Dutch)
1220:2017-04-01
1108:2017-04-03
1065:2017-04-23
967:References
912:cuttlebone
906:and small
899:P. arnaudi
889:Aviculture
865:P. arnaudi
856:S. senegal
655:Ploceinae
634:Bubalornis
460:Sporopipes
342:called it
294:P. arnaudi
276:White Nile
1212:cited on
1168:: 21–32.
904:mealworms
778:Behaviour
406:Ploceidae
354:Phylogeny
302:Ploceidae
192:Bonaparte
160:Species:
142:Ploceidae
98:Kingdom:
92:Eukaryota
1594:22718718
1568:10211032
1493:22718718
1488:BirdLife
1438:Q1301144
1432:Wikidata
1182:28012957
948:dorsalis
908:crickets
830:Breeding
800:colonies
714:dorsalis
254:Taxonomy
210:Synonyms
138:Family:
112:Chordata
108:Phylum:
102:Animalia
88:Domain:
65:IUCN 3.1
1542:2492353
1529:gyhsow1
1503:gyhsow1
1475:Avibase
1399:4085697
1387:The Auk
1353:4084889
1341:The Auk
946:Subsp.
933:arnaudi
931:Subsp.
918:Gallery
822:Feeding
274:on the
194:, 1850)
148:Genus:
128:Order:
118:Class:
63: (
1633:856077
1607:280462
1581:562538
1397:
1351:
1303:
1276:
1180:
815:Acacia
382:sister
1620:77985
1563:IRMNG
1555:13872
1524:eBird
1516:4P56F
1500:BOW:
1395:JSTOR
1349:JSTOR
1051:(PDF)
737:Xagar
322:and
1602:NCBI
1589:IUCN
1576:ITIS
1537:GBIF
1301:ISBN
1274:ISBN
1178:PMID
1146:2021
1013:2021
996:2016
961:Nest
733:Mega
328:are
296:and
272:Juba
240:bird
228:The
122:Aves
1511:CoL
1462:ADW
1170:doi
1166:109
1000:doi
384:to
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