Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Brown-throated Weaver
Ploceus xanthopterus
Southern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus xanthopterus) — 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 Southern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus xanthopterus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.9 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 xanthopterus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.9 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus xanthopterus) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 300,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Brown-throated Weaver?
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 21.9 g.
Where does the Southern Brown-throated Weaver live?
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Southern Brown-throated Weaver belong to?
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus xanthopterus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Brown-throated Weaver eat?
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Southern Brown-throated Weaver migrate?
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern 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 Southern Brown-throated Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Brown-throated 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 Southern Brown-throated Weaver's range?
The Southern Brown-throated Weaver has a mapped global range of about 300,000 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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