Photo: منصة الصور السعودية / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rüppell’s Weaver
Ploceus galbula
Rüppell's Weaver (Ploceus galbula) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.7 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 galbula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rüppell’s Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rüppell’s Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sudan to Somalia and extreme n Kenya; also sw Arabian Pen.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.1 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 941,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rüppell’s Weaver?
The Rüppell’s Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 21.7 g.
Where does the Rüppell’s Weaver live?
The Rüppell’s Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sudan to Somalia and extreme n Kenya; also sw Arabian Pen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rüppell’s Weaver belong to?
The Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rüppell’s Weaver eat?
The Rüppell’s Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Rüppell’s Weaver migrate?
The Rüppell’s Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rüppell’s 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 Rüppell’s Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Rüppell’s Weaver — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rüppell’s Weaver's range?
The Rüppell’s Weaver has a mapped global range of about 941,000 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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