Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-capped Weaver
Ploceus insignis
Brown-capped Weaver (Ploceus insignis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-capped Weaver (Ploceus insignis) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27.5 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 insignis
Where it lives
Eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon; western Angola; southern South Sudan to eastern DR Congo and western, northern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-capped Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-capped Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-capped Weaver (Ploceus insignis) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e Nigeria and w Cameroon; w Angola; s South Sudan to e DR Congo and w, n Tanzania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 247,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-capped Weaver?
The Brown-capped Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 27.5 g.
Where does the Brown-capped Weaver live?
The Brown-capped Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF e Nigeria and w Cameroon; w Angola; s South Sudan to e DR Congo and w, n Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Brown-capped Weaver belong to?
The Brown-capped Weaver (Ploceus insignis) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown-capped Weaver eat?
The Brown-capped Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Brown-capped Weaver migrate?
The Brown-capped Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-capped 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 Brown-capped Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-capped 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 Brown-capped Weaver's range?
The Brown-capped Weaver has a mapped global range of about 247,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Ploceidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.