Oriole weaver
The plumage is similar to that of a sparrow. It is brown from head to tail and marked with black stripes. The tips of the wings and feathers are slightly reddish. The beak is horn-colored in both males and females.
The Ostrich Weaver - a stout bird
The plumage is similar to that of a sparrow. It is brown from head to tail and marked with black stripes. The tips of the wings and feathers are somewhat reddish. The beak is horn-colored in both males and females. The belly is brown with some white streaks. During the mating season, the male changes dramatically. From an inconspicuous bird, it becomes a magnificent specimen in shimmering and colorful hues. It acquires a brightly red to orange breeding plumage. The beak turns black, as does the belly side and the front of the head. The female, on the other hand, does not change during this time. It remains as inconspicuous as before. In addition, it appears smaller than the males. The young birds have fringed flight feathers, which, however, grow out over time and are not as pronounced in older birds.
Habitat
The Ostrich Weaver lives predominantly south of the Sahara, especially in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, western Zimbabwe and northern Transvaal. During the breeding season, however, it often lives in the Etosha Pan. It prefers open grasslands with tall meadows. In addition, it likes to live in reed belts near water. It feeds mainly on seeds and grains, as well as insects. It is not an endangered bird species. In its range, it is frequently encountered. Only in a few areas is it rare or found in small numbers.
Breeding
The sociable Ostrich Weaver lives predominantly in colonies. During the breeding season, however, the male defends its territory. It builds a spherical nest with a side entrance in tall grass. Often, it also builds the nest in sugarcane fields, cornfields or in riparian vegetation. Through courtship song and conspicuous courtship behavior, the male lures the females into its territory. It then lives with several females in a precisely defined area. It mates with several females during the breeding season. Once the female has accepted a nest, it lays the eggs in it. This usually involves two to five eggs. Without the help of the male, the female then incubates the eggs for two weeks. The female is also solely responsible for caring for the young. They are cared for in the nest for about another two weeks. After this time, they leave the nest and are only cared for by the female for a short period of time.
