The black-breasted weaver (''Ploceus benghalensis''), also known as the Bengal weaver or black-throated weaver, is a weaver resident in the northern river plains of the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...

. Like the other weavers, the males build an enclosed nest from reeds and mud, and visiting females select a mate at least partially based on the quality of the nest.

Distribution

Resident or local migrant, endemic to

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...

. Species is described as 'common' in at least parts of its range. It is found throughout northern part of

, with small populations in the Peninsular region. Local Names: hi, Sarbo baya, bn, কালোবুক বাবুই (Kalo-buk babui), বাংলা বাবুই (Bangla babui), শর বাজা (Shor baJa), কান্তাওয়ালা বায়া (Kantawala baya).

Description

It is sparrow-sized with 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 about 15 cm. * Appearance: The male in breeding plumage has a brilliant golden-yellow crown and a variable amount of black on the head and breast; some males have an entirely black head (apart from the yellow crown) and breast, while others have a white throat or an entirely white face with a black band separating it from the fulvous-white underparts. In the non-breeding male and female, the crown is brown like the rest of the upperpart plumage, and the black pectoral band is less developed. It has a prominent supercilium, a spot behind ear, and narrow moustachial streaks, which are pale yellow. Flocks frequent cultivation and the reedy margins of tanks and jheels (shallow lakes), or extensive tall grass areas. * Behaviour: It is polygynous and colonial, and on the whole similar to that of the baya and

streaked weaver The streaked weaver (''Ploceus manyar'') is a species of weaver bird found in South Asia and South-east Asia in the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tha ...

s. * Courtship: Male constructs the nest single-handedly, with a group of females visiting it during late construction stage, jumping on the ''helmets'', tugging and testing, presumably for strength. If a female appears interested, the male bows low before her, presenting his golden crown to her. He flaps his wings deliberately and sings softly ', like the chirp of a cricket or the subdued squeaking of an unoiled bicycle wheel. Once the female agrees and permits copulation, he quickly completes the rest of the nest, and she lays her eggs inside. He immediately commences a second nest nearby to attract other females, and occasionally a third nest, or very rarely a fourth. Nests not accepted by females may be torn down by the builder himself. Synopsis / Handbook Number 1012, vol. 10, p. 100-102. For black-breasted weaver behaviour and nest, quotes articles by Cooke (JBNHS v.60:1-48) and Ambedkar (JBNHS:69:268-82).

Nesting

* Season: June to September * Nest: Similar to the

; somewhat smaller and normally with shorter entrance tubes. Built in reed-beds in marsh, often ''moonj'' or ''kans'' (''

Saccharum spontaneum ''Saccharum spontaneum'' (wild sugarcane, Kans grass) is a grass native to the Indian Subcontinent. It is a perennial grass, growing up to three meters in height, with spreading rhizomatous roots. In the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands, a l ...

''), with some of the growing reeds incorporated into the dome as support. Entrance tube is somewhat shorter than

Baya weavers The baya weaver (''Ploceus philippinus'') is a weaverbird found across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. of these birds are found in grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth and they are best known for their hanging ret ...

(up to about 25 cm). At the 'helmet' stage of construction a quantity of wet mud or

cowdung Cow dung, also known as cow pats, cow pies or cow manure, is the waste product (faeces) of bovine animal species. These species include domestic cattle ("cows"), bison ("buffalo"), yak, and water buffalo. Cow dung is the undigested resid ...

is daubed thickly along the edge, with bright coloured scarlet or orange flowers or flower petals (''

Lantana ''Lantana'' () is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in ...

Lagerstroemia ''Lagerstroemia'' (), commonly known as crape myrtle (also spelled crepe myrtle or crêpe myrtle), is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia ...

'') incorporated; observations suggest that this is part of the courtship rituals and exercise a direct influence on the reactions of the visiting female, both for this species and the streaked weaver. * Colony: Singly or in scattered groups of 4 or 5; sometimes larger colonies. * Eggs: 3 or 4, white, indistinguishable from those of the other two weavers.

Gallery

File:Black-breasted Weaver.jpg, Male in breeding plumage in South India, alt= File:Black-breasted Weaver Ploceus benghalensis by Dr. Raju Kasambe 03.jpg, Nest suspended from grass, India

References

External links

Black-throated Weaver
- Species text in Weaver Watch. {{Taxonbar, from=Q1304453 black-breasted weaver Birds of Pakistan Birds of India Birds of Bangladesh Birds of Northeast India black-breasted weaver black-breasted weaver