FORMERLY known as the forest weaver, a tame and confiding locally common resident.
Found from Port Elizabeth northwards through the KZN coastal belt and into Mozambique.
They like the upper and middle layers of evergreen forests and adjacent thickets where they feed on insects, fruit, nectar and especially aloes.
These weavers are solitary, in pairs with fixed territories or small groups of up to 10 birds, often joining in mixed bird parties.
They forage high in trees, searching for mossy branches of epiphytic plants, creeping down and often hanging upside down. They are easily overlooked unless calling.
Their lovely Afrikaans name is the musician of the bush (bosmusikant) and is most appropriate as their song is a long squeaky, musical duet, interspersed with shrill buzzing notes. They also have a soft high pitched tseep call.
Breeding is October until January. The nest is a woven ball of vines and pliable twigs with a long vertical entrance spout, lined with lichen and suspended six to 10 metres above ground.
Usually, three spotted pinkish white eggs are laid. Incubation is unrecorded and the nestling period is about 22 days. The young remain with the parents to form a family group until the start of the next breeding season.
The isiZulu name is iTilongo.
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