A very common nomadic resident found in the central and western parts of South Africa, the whole of Botswana, western Zimbabwe and Northern Namibia.
They enjoy acacia savanna, arid scrub, bushes along watercourses and farmyards where they seldom drink water and feed on seeds (mainly grass). These weavers are gregarious in flocks of six or 20 birds. They forage on the ground, hopping quickly and when disturbed they fly onto bushes or shrubs. Birds become tame and confident roosting at night on a branch in tight groups of three to four birds, or in thin roofed nests of up to 12 birds. When disturbed, the flock bursts through the roof of the nest and scatters.
Calling frequently in flight, they have a pleasant ching ching voice and when perched a shrilling song kreep, krop, kreep, krop. The breeding season is dependent on the rainfall usually January until June. The nest is a hollow ball of pale dry grass stems and inflorescence having a side entrance tube and lined with fine grass.
Three to five pale greenish eggs are laid the incubation is 10 to 12 days and they are nestlings for 14 to 18 days. The tribal name is Letsetsenkana and in Afrikaans die Baardmannetjie.
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