The baglafecht weaver (''Ploceus baglafecht'') is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of weaver bird from the family

Ploceidae Ploceidae is a family of small passerine birds, many of which are called weavers, weaverbirds, weaver finches and bishops. These names come from the nests of intricately woven vegetation created by birds in this family. In most recent classifica ...

which is found in eastern and central Africa. There are several disjunct populations with distinguishable plumage patterns. Only some races display a discrete non-breeding plumage.

Taxonomy and systematics

The origin of the word baglafecht is something of a mystery and was coined by

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (; 7 September 1707 – 16 April 1788) was a French naturalist, mathematician, cosmologist, and encyclopédiste. His works influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including two prominent Fr ...

, probably from a local name in an Abyssinian language.

Subspecies

The following races are currently recognised: * ''P. b. baglafecht'' - (Daudin, 1802): Found in the Ethiopian highlands and southern Eritrea * ''P. b. neumanni'' - (Bannerman, 1923): Found in eastern Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic * ''P. b. eremobius'' - (Hartlaub & Emin, 1887): Found in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and south-western South Sudan * Emin's weaver (''P. b. emini'') - (Hartlaub, 1882): Found in south-eastern South Sudan, south-western Ethiopia and northern Uganda * Reichenow's weaver (''P. b. reichenowi'') - (Fischer, GA, 1884): Found in eastern Uganda, Kenyan highlands and northern Tanzania * Stuhlmann's weaver (''P. b. stuhlmanni'') - (Reichenow, 1893): Found from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to southern Uganda and western Tanzania * ''P. b. sharpii'' - (Shelley, 1898): Found in montane forests of southern and south-western Tanzania * ''P. b. nyikae'' - (Benson, 1938): Found in Nyika Plateau of north-eastern Zambia and northern Malawi

Description

The baglafecht weaver has a

length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a base unit for length is chosen, from which all other units are derived. In the Interna ...

of . The adult male baglafecht weaver has a distinctive black mask which extends from the bill through the eye and onto the ear coverts contrasting with the bright yellow forehead, forecrown and throat. The upperparts are yellowish green with dark centres to the feathers creating a faint streaking. The underparts are bright yellow on the breast fading to white towards the vent. The tail is yellow washed dark brown. The bill is black and the eye is pale yellow. The female baglafecht weaver lacks a mask but has dusky lores with yellowish-green cap, concolorous with the upperparts. In the non breeding plumage the mask is largely lost but there remains a dusky area around the eye, greyish brown on the upperparts, including the crown, with white washed buff underparts. Juveniles and immature birds do not have a mask on the dark-yellowish green head. The nominate race and Emin's weaver assume a distinct non-breeding plumage, but Reichenow's weaver does not.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in central, eastern, and south-eastern Africa. It is found in forest edge, woodlands, gardens and towns.

Behaviour and ecology

The baglafecht weaver normally breeds singly rather than in colonies. The nests are loosely woven and usually placed in the foliage of trees or bushes. It is often aggressive to other birds and not shy of people.

Gallery

File:Baglafecht weaver (Ploceus baglafecht baglafecht) male non-breeding.jpg, ''P. b. baglfecht'', Ethiopia
male in non-breeding plumage File:Baglafechtweaver.jpg, Stuhlmann's weaver (''P. b. stuhlmanni'') in Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda

References

External links

Baglafecht Weaver
- Species text in Weaver Watch. {{Taxonbar, from=Q743623

baglafecht weaver The baglafecht weaver (''Ploceus baglafecht'') is a species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as t ...

Birds of Central Africa Birds of East Africa Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa

Taxonomy articles created by Polbot