Photo: DickDaniels (https://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Vitelline Masked Weaver
Ploceus vitellinus
Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 20 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Ploceus
- Species vitellinus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Vitelline Masked Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Vitelline Masked Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Vitelline Masked Weaver?
The Vitelline Masked Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 20 g.
Where does the Vitelline Masked Weaver live?
The Vitelline Masked Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Vitelline Masked Weaver belong to?
The Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Vitelline Masked Weaver eat?
The Vitelline Masked Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Vitelline Masked Weaver migrate?
The Vitelline Masked Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Vitelline Masked Weaver endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Vitelline Masked Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Vitelline Masked Weaver — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Vitelline Masked Weaver's range?
The Vitelline Masked Weaver has a mapped global range of about 4.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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