| Black-backed weaver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| breeding male | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Ploceidae |
| Genus: | Ploceus |
| Species: | P. melanocephalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ploceus melanocephalus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Theblack-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), also known asyellow-backed weaver, is a species ofbird in the familyPloceidae. It is a resident breeder in damp areas in tropical Africa.
The black-headed weaver wasformally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeus in thetenth edition of hisSystema Naturae under thebinomial nameLoxia melanocephala. He specified thetype locality as Guinea.[2][3] Linnaeus based his account on the "Gamboa Groasbeak" that had been described and illustrated in 1750 by the English naturalistEleazar Albin in his bookA Natural History of Birds. Albin had sketched a live specimen belonging to theDuke of Chandos at his country house,Cannons, which was located about 11 mi (18 km) northwest of London nearEdgware.[4] The specific epithetmelanocephalus,melanocephala combines theAncient Greek μελας/melas, μελανος/melanos meaning "black" with -κεφαλος/-kephalos meaning "-headed".[5] The black-headed weaver is now one of 67 species placed in thegenusPloceus that was introduced in 1816 by the French naturalistGeorges Cuvier.[6]
Fivesubspecies are recognised:[6]
P. victoriaeAsh, 1986 is now thought to be a hybrid betweenP. melanocephalus andP. castanops.
Breeding males have a black head and yellow nuchal collar, which is absent in theJuba andgolden-backed weavers. It also differs from the latter species and village weaver by its plain, greenish mantle plumage.[7] The pale yellow underpart plumage is suffused with a variable amount of chestnut.
The female and non-breeding male lack the black head, and resemble a femalemasked weaver, except that they have dark eyes and a darker bill. Their buffy breast plumage also distinguishes them from non-breeding golden-backed weavers.[7]
It occurs in West, Central, and East Africa, but it has also beenintroduced to theIberian Peninsula.[8] It is found insavanna and similar habitats, typically near water. It often lives on an Acacia tree 3 meter away from land to prevent predation.[1][failed verification]
.jpg)
Media related toPloceus melanocephalus at Wikimedia Commons
