© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Unidentified Bishop. Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Black-winged Red Bishop
Latin: Euplectes hordeaceus
Other: Euplecte monseigneur (Fr)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: W, C, E, SE Africa
Similar: many

There seems to be no way of being sure what Bishop this is in non-breeding plumage (Feb). We saw many such bishops during our stay - guides would often id them as Black-winged Red Bishops (more black on the wings and back) - but there didn’t seem to be any reliable way of knowing. Really you need to come in breeding season (Oct - Jan) for the bishops.

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Unconfirmed photo. Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Black-headed Weaver
Latin: Ploceus melanocephalus
Other: Yellow-backed Weaver. Tisserin à tête noire (Fr)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: W, C, E Africa
Similar: Heuglin’s Masked Weaver

Although I can’t be sure that the photo above is a Black-headed Weaver in non-breeding plumage, it does seem likely from the general shape and colouring and white iris. Heuglin’s Masked Weaver can’t be ruled out from this pic though.More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Unconfirmed Heuglin’s. Gambia, Mar 2013

Bird name: Heuglin's Masked Weaver
Latin: Ploceus heuglini
Other: Tisserin masqué (Fr)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: W, C, E Africa
Similar: Black-headed Weaver

Another tricky weaver in non-breeding plumage. These pictures from Tujereng, Gambia, March, seem likely to be Heuglin’s Masked Weaver but one can’t be certain.

Unconfirmed Heuglin’s Masked Weaver, Tujereng, Gambia, Mar 2013

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Possible Little Weaver? Gambia, Mar 2013

Bird name: Little Weaver
Latin: Ploceus luteolus
Other: Tisserin minule (Fr)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: W, C, E Africa
Similar:

The guide identified this as Little Weaver, but one really can’t be sure at all from this pic taken in Tujereng, Gambia in March. I’ve put it here just as a “possible”.

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: White Billed Buffalo Weaver
Latin: Bubalornis albirostris
Other: Alecto à bec blanc (Fr)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: W, C, E Africa
Similar:

Distant shots of a White-billed Buffalo Weaver. A large weaver.

White-billed Buffalo Weaver nests, Gambia, Feb 2013
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Red-billed Quelea
Latin: Quelea quelea
Other: Travailleur à bec rouge (Fr), Blutschnabelweber (De), roodbekwever (Nl)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: Widespread Africa
Similar:

If it weren’t for their pinkish-red bills, Red-billed Queleas would look similar to many other weavers in non-breeding plumage. But with this field mark there is no mistaking them in the Gambia. Also red ring around eye. Some birds in mixed flocks had pale pinkish bills - not sure if these were juveniles or perhaps a different species.

The Red-billed Quelea is the world’s most abundant wild bird species with well over a billion pairs estimated.

Red-billed Quelea in non-breeding plumage, Gambia, Mar 2013


A flock of Red-billed Queleas, Gambia, Mar 2013
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Black-necked Weaver
Latin: Ploceus nigricollis
Other: Tisserin à cou noir (Fr)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: Tropical Africa, Senegal, Angola to Tanzania
Similar: Spectacled Weaver

Above, my only sighting of a brachypterus Black-necked Weaver in the Gambia, in the bamboo grove at the Senegambia Hotel. Below, a nigricollis female in Kinshasa.

Alexia W - female nigricollis Black-necked Weaver, Kinshasa • Nov 2009

© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Village Weaver
Latin: Ploceus cucullatus
Other: Tisserin gendarme (fr), Dorfweber (De), Grote textorwever (Nl)
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Similar:

The Village Weaver was one of the most commonly seen birds in the Gambia. In February and March it’s in non-breeding plumage, so identified here principally by the red iris.

Further below in breeding plumage in Angola.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lake Victoria • Oct 2009

Bird name: Lesser Masked Weaver
Latin: Ploceus intermedius
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

This probable Lesser Masked Weaver was seen at Lake Victoria in Tanzania.

The IDs of these yellow weavers should probably be treated with care - there are quite a number of possibles and significant variations in breeding, non-breeding, juvenile and female plumages.

Below, in “more photos”, more examples from Congo.More photos...

Photos copyright: AS/monacoeye • Masai Mara • Oct 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Holub's Golden Weaver
Latin: Ploceus xanthops
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

Holub’s Goden Weaver is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Seen here in the Masai Mara, Kenya.

There are many similar-looking yellow weavers, so caution should be used with this photo ID. This looks like a male Holub’s Golden Weaver from the dark bill.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ngorongoro • Oct 2009

Bird name: Speke’s Weaver
Latin: Ploceus spekei
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

This seems likely to be a Speke’s Weaver, taken at Ngorongoro in Tanzania, but ID needs confirmation.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Serengeti • Oct 2009

Bird name: Speckle Fronted Weaver
Latin: Sporopipes frontalis
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

The two different birds which look like Speckle-fronted Weavers to me, but need checking. Above taken in the Serengeti, below at Lake Manyara.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Serengeti • Oct 2009

Bird name: White Headed Buffalo Weaver
Latin: Dinemellia dinemelli
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

A nice photo of a White-headed Buffalo-weaver seen in the Serengeti in Tanzania. Quite common in East Africa.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lake Victoria • Oct 2009

Bird name: Slender Billed Weaver
Latin: Ploceus pelzelni
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

This presumed Slender-billed Weaver was seen at Lake Victoria in Tanzania.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lake Victoria • Oct 2009

Bird name: Yellow Backed Weaver
Latin: Ploceus melanocephalus
Other: Black-headed Weaver
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

Thanks to André for sending this mystery bird in, taken near Lake Victoria, Tanzania, October 2009.

It has been identified as an immature or female Yellow-backed Weaver, principally from the russet chest, bill shape and dark irises.

Photo copyright: A/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Angola • Nov 2009

Bird name: Spectacled Weaver
Latin: Ploceus ocularis
Other:
Family: Ploceidae • Weavers
Range:
Similar:

A pair of Spectacled Weavers, again seen in the hotel grounds in Luanda.More photos...

214 Family: Ploceidae • Weavers, Widowbirds, Malimbes, Queleas, Fodies, Bishops - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Bubalornis albirostris - White-billed Buffalo Weaver - W, C, E Africa
Bubalornis niger - Red-billed Buffalo Weaver - E, SE, S Africa

Dinemellia dinemelli - White-headed Buffalo Weaver - E, EC Africa

Sporopipes squamifrons - Scaly-feathered Weaver - S Africa
Sporopipes frontalis - Speckle-fronted Weaver - W, C, E Africa

Amblyospiza albifrons - Thick-billed Weaver - Widespread Africa

Ploceus baglafecht - Baglafecht Weaver - C, E, SE Africa
Ploceus bannermani - Bannerman's Weaver - Nigeria, Cameroon
Ploceus batesi - Bates's Weaver - Cameroon
Ploceus nigrimentus - Black-chinned Weaver - SW Africa
Ploceus bertrandi - Bertram's Weaver - SE Africa
Ploceus pelzelni - Slender-billed Weaver - C, W Africa
Ploceus subpersonatus - Loango Weaver - WC Africa
Ploceus luteolus - Little Weaver - W, C, E Africa
Ploceus ocularis - Spectacled Weaver - C, E, SE Africa
Ploceus nigricollis - Black-necked Weaver - W, C, E Africa
Ploceus alienus - Strange Weaver - C Africa
Ploceus melanogaster - Black-billed Weaver - C Africa
Ploceus capensis - Cape Weaver - South Africa
Ploceus temporalis - Bocage's Weaver - WC Africa
Ploceus subaureus - Eastern Golden Weaver - E, SE Africa - Was Yellow Weaver
Ploceus xanthops - Holub's Golden Weaver - C, SE Africa - NB name
Ploceus aurantius - Orange Weaver - W, C Africa
Ploceus heuglini - Heuglin's Masked Weaver - W, C, E Africa
Ploceus bojeri - Golden Palm Weaver - E Africa
Ploceus castaneiceps - Taveta Weaver - Kenya, Tanzania
Ploceus princeps - Principe Weaver - Príncipe
Ploceus castanops - Northern Brown-throated Weaver - EC Africa
Ploceus xanthopterus - Southern Brown-throated Weaver - S Africa
Ploceus burnieri - Kilombero Weaver - Tanzania
Ploceus galbula - Rüppell's Weaver - NE, Africa, also SW Arabian Peninsula
Ploceus taeniopterus - Northern Masked Weaver - EC Africa
Ploceus intermedius - Lesser Masked Weaver - E, SE, S Africa
Ploceus velatus - Southern Masked Weaver - S Africa
Ploceus katangae - Katanga Masked Weaver - SC Africa
Ploceus ruweti - Lufira Masked Weaver - Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ploceus reichardi - Tanzanian Masked Weaver - Tanzania
Ploceus vitellinus - Vitelline Masked Weaver - W, C, E Africa
Ploceus spekei - Speke's Weaver - E Africa
Ploceus spekeoides - Fox's Weaver - Uganda
Ploceus cucullatus - Village Weaver - Widespread Africa
Ploceus grandis - Giant Weaver - São Tomé Africa
Ploceus nigerrimus - Vieillot's Black Weaver - W, C Africa
Ploceus weynsi - Weyns's Weaver - C Africa
Ploceus golandi - Clarke's Weaver - Kenya
Ploceus dicrocephalus - Juba Weaver - E Africa
Ploceus melanocephalus - Black-headed Weaver - W, C, EC Africa
Ploceus jacksoni - Golden-backed Weaver - EC, E Africa
Ploceus badius - Cinnamon Weaver - Sudan
Ploceus rubiginosus - Chestnut Weaver - E, SW Africa
Ploceus aureonucha - Golden-naped Weaver - Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ploceus tricolor - Yellow-mantled Weaver - W, C Africa
Ploceus albinucha - Maxwell's Black Weaver - W, C Africa
Ploceus nelicourvi - Nelicourvi Weaver - Madagascar
Ploceus sakalava - Sakalava Weaver - Madagascar
Ploceus hypoxanthus - Asian Golden Weaver - Burma to Java
Ploceus superciliosus - Compact Weaver - W, C Africa
Ploceus benghalensis - Black-breasted Weaver - Pakistan to SC China
Ploceus manyar - Streaked Weaver - Widespread Asia
Ploceus philippinus - Baya Weaver - Widespread Asia
Ploceus megarhynchus - Finn's Weaver - N India, Nepal, S Bhutan
Ploceus bicolor - Dark-backed Weaver - Widespread Africa
Ploceus preussi - Preuss's Weaver - W, C Africa
Ploceus dorsomaculatus - Yellow-capped Weaver - WC Africa
Ploceus olivaceiceps - Olive-headed Weaver - SE Africa
Ploceus nicolli - Usambara Weaver - Tanzania
Ploceus insignis - Brown-capped Weaver - C Africa
Ploceus angolensis - Bar-winged Weaver - SC Africa
Ploceus sanctithomae - Sao Tome Weaver - São Tomé Africa
Ploceus flavipes - Yellow-legged Weaver - Democratic Republic of the Congo

Malimbus coronatus - Red-crowned Malimbe - WC Africa
Malimbus cassini - Cassin's Malimbe - WC Africa
Malimbus racheliae - Rachel's Malimbe - WC Africa
Malimbus ballmanni - Gola Malimbe - W Africa
Malimbus scutatus - Red-vented Malimbe - W Africa
Malimbus ibadanensis - Ibadan Malimbe - Nigeria
Malimbus nitens - Blue-billed Malimbe - W, C Africa
Malimbus rubricollis - Red-headed Malimbe - W, C Africa
Malimbus erythrogaster - Red-bellied Malimbe - C Africa
Malimbus malimbicus - Crested Malimbe - W, C Africa

Anaplectes melanotis - Red-headed Weaver - Widespread Africa

Quelea cardinalis - Cardinal Quelea - E, EC Africa
Quelea erythrops - Red-headed Quelea - Widespread Africa
Quelea quelea - Red-billed Quelea - Widespread Africa

Foudia madagascariensis - Red Fody - Madagascar region
Foudia eminentissima - Comoros Fody - Comoros
Foudia aldabrana - Aldabra Fody - Aldabra Island
Foudia omissa - Forest Fody - Madagascar
Foudia rubra - Mauritius Fody - Mauritius
Foudia sechellarum - Seychelles Fody - Seychelles islands
Foudia flavicans - Rodrigues Fody - Rodrigues Island

Brachycope anomala - Bob-tailed Weaver - WC Africa

Euplectes afer - Yellow-crowned Bishop - W, C, E, S Africa
Euplectes diadematus - Fire-fronted Bishop - E Africa
Euplectes gierowii - Black Bishop - EC, E, SE Africa
Euplectes nigroventris - Zanzibar Red Bishop - SE Africa
Euplectes hordeaceus - Black-winged Red Bishop - W, C, E, SE Africa
Euplectes orix - Southern Red Bishop - E, SE, S Africa
Euplectes franciscanus - Northern Red Bishop - W, C, E Africa
Euplectes aureus - Golden-backed Bishop - Angola, São Tomé Africa
Euplectes capensis - Yellow Bishop - C, E, S Africa
Euplectes axillaris - Fan-tailed Widowbird - C, E, SE Africa
Euplectes macroura - Yellow-mantled Widowbird - W, C, E, SE Africa
Euplectes hartlaubi - Marsh Widowbird - C Africa
Euplectes psammocromius - Montane Widowbird - EC Africa
Euplectes albonotatus - White-winged Widowbird - WC, E, SC Africa
Euplectes ardens - Red-collared Widowbird - W, C, E, S Africa
Euplectes progne - Long-tailed Widowbird - E, SC Africa
Euplectes jacksoni - Jackson's Widowbird - E Africa