Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Thick-billed Weaver
Find out more about this feathered Highway local below.
THE Thick-billed Weaver is one of eight species of Weaver found in our area and there are 16 species in South Africa. They are called weavers because of the very intricate woven nests they build, often in colonies, that hang from the ends of branches. The nests are well built and each species of Weaver has its own design, some with long vertical entry tunnels and others that are simpler. The Thick-billed Weaver’s nest is arguably the one with the finest and neatest weave.
Description
It cannot be confused with any other bird or weaver in our area due their very large and powerful looking beak as well as their distinctive colouration. Males are dark brown in colour with dark bills and a dash of white on the wing and forehead. The females are smaller and lighter in colour and heavily streaked underneath. They also have pale yellow coloured beak.
Their calls are quite harsh and clicky and are unlikely to win any birdsong competition.
Distribution
Thick-billed Weavers are found in a narrow coastal strip from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) through to the Kruger National Park. They are also found scattered in sub-Saharan Africa. They are permanently resident in our area and can be observed throughout the year.
Habitat
During the breeding season they will always be found near reed beds, marshy areas, rivers and the edges of dams or large ponds. During the non-breeding months, they will spend more time feeding in the evergreen forest areas.
Feeding
They are mainly fruit and seed eaters but will occasionally eat insects. They use their powerful beaks to open the fruit of indigenous species such as those of the White Stinkwood and the Thorny Elm.
Breeding
They nest in Papyrus or Bulrush reeds and usually nest in large colonies. In our area, possibly due to the lack of extensive wetlands, they are usually solitary nesters or gather in small groups with up to five nests. Nests are typically suspended between at least two upright reed stems.
They are polygynous, meaning one male will mate with multiple females. They will often be seen sharing reed beds with other weavers and, in our area in particular, the Village Weaver. The nests are built by the males and, as with most weaver species, the nest has to be accepted by the female. Once she has accepted it, she will finish it off by lining the inside of the nest. Two to four eggs are laid and incubated for more than two weeks by the female only. She also feeds the chicks once hatched. The breeding period is from November through to March.
During the non-breeding season, they tend to gather in flocks.
ASLO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Black Sparrowhawk
Predators
Adults are hunted by Goshawks and nest predators include Coucals and Water Monitors.
Threats
They are not threatened and generally seem to have benefitted by living close to humans, particularly where dams and wetlands have been created. Conversely, habitat destruction and in particular draining of wetlands for development has been a problem in the past.
Local information
As they are wetland birds, there aren’t many places in Kloof where you will find them. One excellent spot is the Memorial Park in Kloof as there are two wetland sections there. Both usually have Thick-billed Weaver nests during the breeding season.
This is one species that does provide good photographic opportunities, so do take a tripod and a chair and enjoy the nesting activity while you take photographs.
Interesting facts
Their scientific name is Amblyospiza albifrons where the word Amlyospiza means “blunt finch” and refers to their impressive beak. Albifrons is the latin description for “white forehead”
The wetlands in Memorial Park were re-established as part of a Kloof Conservancy rehabilitation project started in 2005. The programme has resulted in a significant improvement of the biodiversity of the park, including the return of species such as thee Thick-billed Weaver.
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