Photo: Tom Tarrant / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Weaver
Ploceus melanocephalus
Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 23 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 melanocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, ec.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 Black-headed Weaver?
The Black-headed Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 23 g.
Where does the Black-headed Weaver live?
The Black-headed Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, ec, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-headed Weaver belong to?
The Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Weaver eat?
The Black-headed Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-headed Weaver migrate?
The Black-headed Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed 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 Black-headed Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Weaver — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Weaver's range?
The Black-headed 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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