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Photo: DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Heuglin’s Masked Weaver

Ploceus heuglini

Heuglin's Masked Weaver (Ploceus heuglini) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

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The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver (Ploceus heuglini) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 22.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
  4. Genus Ploceus
  5. Species heuglini

Where it lives

Senegal and Gambia; Mali to the Ivory Coast and east to Uganda and western Kenya

Quick facts

Weight
22.8 g
Family
Ploceidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver (Ploceus heuglini) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia; Mali to the Ivory Coast and e to Uganda and w Kenya.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.5 million km².

Songs & calls

Heuglin’s Masked Weaver — Song

Recorded by Étienne Leroy Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Heuglin’s Masked Weaver?

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 22.8 g.

Where does the Heuglin’s Masked Weaver live?

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia; Mali to the Ivory Coast and e to Uganda and w Kenya, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Heuglin’s Masked Weaver belong to?

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver (Ploceus heuglini) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Heuglin’s Masked Weaver eat?

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Heuglin’s Masked Weaver migrate?

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Heuglin’s 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 Heuglin’s Masked Weaver make?

1 real field recording of the Heuglin’s 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 Heuglin’s Masked Weaver's range?

The Heuglin’s Masked Weaver has a mapped global range of about 2.5 million km².

Conservation

Least Concern

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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