Little Weaver

Ploceus luteolus

A master architect of the bird world, this tiny weaver skilfully knits together intricate hanging nests from palm fronds and grass stems across the savannahs of Africa.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Little Weaver is a small, vibrant bird. Breeding males have bright yellow plumage with a distinctive black face mask that covers the forehead, cheeks, and extends down to the throat. Their back and wings are olive-brown with yellow edges.

Females and non-breeding males are duller, with yellowish-green upperparts streaked with darker colours, and paler yellow to whitish underparts. Juveniles are similar but more grey-brown in colour.

Size

Length

11cm to 12cm

Wingspan

18cm to 20cm

Weight

13g to 19g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Yellow Olive

Secondary Colour

Brown Black

Beak Colour

Black Brown

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour (Female)

Yellow

Beak Colour (Female)

Black Brown

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Little Weaver can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Little Weaver is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Little Weaver can be found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

The Little Weaver is found across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to northern South Africa. It inhabits open woodlands, savannahs, and grasslands with scattered trees.

These birds prefer areas with acacia trees for nesting and are also found in cultivated lands and gardens. They are non-migratory, maintaining their presence year-round in suitable habitats.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,500 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Little Weaver. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons