Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Masked Weaver
Ploceus velatus
Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 30.9 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 velatus
Where it lives
Southern Angola to Mozambique, south to southern, eastern South Africa; also São Tomé (south-central Gulf of Guinea Is.)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 30.9 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Masked Weaver is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Southern Masked Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Angola to Mozambique, s to s, e South Africa; also São Tomé (sc Gulf of Guinea Is.).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 30.9 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Masked Weaver?
The Southern Masked Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 30.9 g.
Where does the Southern Masked Weaver live?
The Southern Masked Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Angola to Mozambique, s to s, e South Africa; also São Tomé (sc Gulf of Guinea Is.), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Southern Masked Weaver belong to?
The Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Masked Weaver eat?
The Southern Masked Weaver is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Southern Masked Weaver migrate?
The Southern Masked Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern 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 Southern Masked Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Southern 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 Southern Masked Weaver's range?
The Southern Masked Weaver has a mapped global range of about 3.5 million 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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