Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Brown-throated Weaver
Ploceus castanops
Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) — 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 Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.4 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 castanops
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Brown-throated 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 Northern Brown-throated Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Uganda and e DR Congo to w Kenya and n Tanzania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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 193,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Brown-throated Weaver?
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 21.4 g.
Where does the Northern Brown-throated Weaver live?
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF Uganda and e DR Congo to w Kenya and n Tanzania, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Northern Brown-throated Weaver belong to?
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern Brown-throated Weaver eat?
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Northern Brown-throated Weaver migrate?
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Brown-throated 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 Northern Brown-throated Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Brown-throated 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 Northern Brown-throated Weaver's range?
The Northern Brown-throated Weaver has a mapped global range of about 193,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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