Photo: Brian Ralphs from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Olive-headed Weaver
Ploceus olivaceiceps
Olive-headed Weaver (Ploceus olivaceiceps) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Olive-headed Weaver (Ploceus olivaceiceps) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 20.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Ploceus
- Species olivaceiceps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Olive-headed 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 Olive-headed Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Olive-headed Weaver (Ploceus olivaceiceps) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Tanzania, e Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.8 g, with a wing length of about 8.2 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 234,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Olive-headed Weaver?
The Olive-headed Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 20.8 g.
Where does the Olive-headed Weaver live?
The Olive-headed Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF Tanzania, e Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Olive-headed Weaver belong to?
The Olive-headed Weaver (Ploceus olivaceiceps) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Olive-headed Weaver eat?
The Olive-headed Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Olive-headed Weaver migrate?
The Olive-headed Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Olive-headed Weaver endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Olive-headed Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Olive-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 Olive-headed Weaver's range?
The Olive-headed Weaver has a mapped global range of about 234,000 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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