Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Strange Weaver
Ploceus alienus
Strange Weaver (Ploceus alienus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Strange Weaver (Ploceus alienus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 22.2 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 alienus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Strange Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Strange Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Strange Weaver (Ploceus alienus) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw Uganda, e DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 5.5 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 62,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Strange Weaver?
The Strange Weaver is a small bird that weighs around 22.2 g.
Where does the Strange Weaver live?
The Strange Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw Uganda, e DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Strange Weaver belong to?
The Strange Weaver (Ploceus alienus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Strange Weaver eat?
The Strange Weaver is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Strange Weaver migrate?
The Strange Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Strange 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 Strange Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Strange 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 Strange Weaver's range?
The Strange Weaver has a mapped global range of about 62,000 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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