Cabanis's weaver
The male has a black mask that extends to the beginning of the crown. It forms a notch above the eye.
Cabanis weaver - small bird with a short but strong beak
The male has a black mask that extends to the beginning of the crown. It forms a notch above the eye. There is a great similarity to the African golden oriole. The front of the head is black up to the throat and ears. The back of the head and nape are reddish to brownish-yellow, the breast is orange and the underside is lemon yellow. The back is yellowish-green and lemon yellow towards the tail. The wings are dark brown with yellow edges. The Cabanis weaver has a black beak and the limbs and toes are light brown. It has four toes, one pointing backwards and three forwards.
Diet
The Cabanis weaver feeds mainly on seeds and insects. It is usually found in small groups. They stay near the breeding sites. In winter, they search for insects in the trees. They also collect the nectar and pollen of the aloe plant. The birds are very sociable. The male builds several nests to attract the female. After completing a nest, he hangs upside down from the nest and makes mating calls. He flutters his wings excitedly and performs acrobatics on the nest. Females are usually attracted by this behavior. However, the nest must still be fresh; an old nest is ignored by the females. If interested, the female tests the firmness of the nest by pecking it with strong beak blows. If no female shows interest in the nest, the male destroys the nest himself.
Breeding
The breeding season of the Cabanis weaver is from August to March, with the peak between October and January. Like other weavers, it is a master of nest building. At this time, there is a lot of activity in the tree, as the males usually build several nests. Each male builds up to four nests, all of which have a long entrance tunnel. The competition among males is very fierce. During competition, males even destroy nests in the absence of other males. But these nests are then repaired and the courtship continues. The female usually lays two to three eggs. After about 13 days of incubation, the chicks hatch. They leave the nest after about 15 to 16 days.
