Cape Weaver

39 Replies

Ploceus capensis

The Cape Weaver is common in fynbos, wet highlands, coastal thickets and grasslands with easy access to water and stands of trees. It shows a marked preference for agricultural areas causing some conflict with grain and fruit farmers. It feeds on a wide range of plant material (especially seeds, fruit and nectar) and insects, often in mixed flocks with other weavers, sparrows and canaries. They weigh between 28 and 54 grams.

Cape Weavers are gregarious, nesting colonially in reeds, trees or fences (not necessarily near water) during the spring and summer months, often together with other species of weaver and bishop. Males mate with as many as 7 females in a season and has to weave several nests of grass and reeds to accommodate them – females will often tear apart nests that they find inferior. If accepted, the female will line the nest with soft vegetation and feathers and then, after mating, lies a clutch of 2-5 eggs, which she incubates for two weeks. The chicks fledge at about 17 days of age.

The Cape Weaver is a common to abundant species in South Africa, with a limited distribution outside our borders in Swaziland, Lesotho and the extreme south of Namibia along the lower Orange River, and considered of least concern by the IUCN. They are common along the Atlantic coast and adjacent interior of the Northern Cape, throughout most of the Western and Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal, the eastern Free State, Gauteng and the Highveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province.

Cape Weaver male
Cape weaver (female)
Cape Weaver female
Cape Weaver male
Cape Weaver juvenile
Cape Weaver male
Cape Weaver nest
Cape Weaver nest
Cape Weaver male displaying
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver female
Inquisitive Cape Weaver
Cape Weaver (photo by Joubert)
Cape Weaver (photo by Joubert)

39 thoughts on “Cape Weaver”

  4. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

    Is dit dirselfde weaver wat ook in noorde van die land is? Hul lyk my anders. Ek’s gewoond aan die mannertjies met hul swart maskers. Mag dalk my misreken. Daar is darem maar n groot verskydenheid van voël-lewe in SA. Dis n fotograaf se paradys as mens in voëls belangstel. Baie interessant.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
      3. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

        Dit kan jy weer sê! Hierdie tyd van die jaar sodra die bome begin blom is dit n “kakafonie” van voëls veral vreg oggend. Dit gesels en lawaai en jaag mekaar. Die Tui’s is baie besitlik. Hul kies n boom en net hy en vroutjie kan deel. Die res moet nie eers waag om naby te kom nie. Terwyl een jaag spring n ander gou in en neem n paar lekker slukke nektar.Ek geniet dit elke oggend om hul so te sien.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

        Beslis. Hul hou hier voël tel dae. Die Kereru is juis weer volgende week aan die beurt. Mens stuur net hoevell jy gesien het op daardie dag en waar. Mens kry dan terugvoer van hoeveel daar gesien is en waar. Daar is ook n tuinvoël kyk dag. Sit vir n uur en kyk hoeveel en hoeveel verskillendes mens in die uur sien.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. John

    Such a beautiful little bird. 🙂 It´s a bird who like to have a harem, it looks likes, 7 females. 😀 It’s very early as the chicks can fly, only 17 days, they must evolve quickly.

    Like

    Reply ↓

Please don't leave without sharing your thoughts?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.