Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut Weaver
Ploceus rubiginosus
Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 30 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 rubiginosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 30 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chestnut Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, sw.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 30 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 5.1 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 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut Weaver?
The Chestnut Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 30 g.
Where does the Chestnut Weaver live?
The Chestnut Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, sw, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Chestnut Weaver belong to?
The Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut Weaver eat?
The Chestnut Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut Weaver migrate?
The Chestnut Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chestnut 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 Chestnut Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut 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 Chestnut Weaver's range?
The Chestnut Weaver has a mapped global range of about 1.2 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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