Weaving like a weaverbird
- Author
- Staff
- Date
- September 28, 2021
Did You Know That Some Birds Can Weave?
In the family of Ploceidae, there are multiple species of weaverbirds. As their name suggests, these birds can weave their nests on upper branches of trees. Weaverbirds are mainly found in Asia, Australia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
A weaverbird nest is easily recognizable for its shape–a round enclosure, sometimes with a long entrance, that looks a lot like a tunnel. In the wild, the entrances protect the nest from tree snakes. Each nest can host up to two adult birds and their eggs. Some weaver species build nests together in the same tree, like an apartment building, that can reach 16 feet across!
These examples of weaverbird nests are all part of our oology collection.
Knot Know-How
Imagine tying your shoes or making a slip knot without using your thumbs. Using their beaks and feet, birds are able to create ornate and fully functional nests. Most birds do some twisting, winding, and manipulation of materials, but weaverbirds intentionally tie knots and weave grasses.
Weavers Dig Green
The male weaverbird builds his nest (or multiple nests) to woo females. The tighter and greener the weave of his nest, the better his odds! Since all of the nests turn brown in a matter of days, a nest’s greenness doesn’t make it structurally superior. So, why the preference?
Males aren’t born knowing that green appeals to females. Over time, they learn and become more selective at picking grasses. This preference for green could just be a way for females to find the older, more experienced males.