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BREEDING LAYARD’S BLACK-HEADED WEAVER

Ploceus cucullatm nigriceps 1


by Graham Thurlow


In the spring of 2004 I transferred a pair of Layard’s Black-headed

Weavers into a new outdoor flight measuring 14ft x 8ft x 7ft high (approx.

4,2m x 2.4m x 2.1m high). The birds also had access to an indoor flight

measuring 8ft x 3ft x 6ft high (approx. 2.4m x 0.9m x 1.8m high), that

forms part of my birdroom which is heated to a minimum of 60°F (15.6°C).

During the previous three years the birds had been housed in a large indoor

flight of similar dimensions to the new aviary and, although the male had

diligently built nests throughout this period, the female had taken little

interest in them.


During their first year the weavers shared the new aviary with two pairs

of Java Sparrows Padda oryzivora and, once they were given access to

the outside quarters, the male weaver immediately started nest building.

Much to my surprise his preferred site was in the inside aviary, in which

he suspended his nest from branches placed in the flight. The birds were

offered raffia as nesting material and within three days the male weaver

built a very solid globular structure with a short, downward pointing tunnel.

Once it was complete, and whenever the female approached the nest, the

male would suspend himself from the nest entrance, flapping his wings and

swaying from side to side, “fuzzing and buzzing” in what with Layard’s

Black-headed Weaver passes for a song.


At that point I went on holiday assuming that, as previously, nothing

would come of the attempt. When I returned a week later, however, the

female weaver was nowhere to be seen. It was not until I opened the door

to the indoor flight, that she flew out of the nest and into the outside aviary.

A careful examination of the nest revealed two eggs. I therefore retreated

quickly to allow the female to return to the nest. During the incubation period

I did my best to see to all the birds in the birdroom without disturbing the

female, which usually sat tight, until I came to renew the food and water

in her flight. She would then beat a retreat, but always returned once I had

left the birdroom. The male took no part in the incubation process or in the

rearing of the chicks.


Approximately 10 days later an eggshell was found on the floor of the


1 Recentfield guides follow Clancy (1970) and use the name P. c. paroptus

rather than R c. nigriceps which he regarded as being restricted to areas

south of Tanzania . - Ed.



