Avian architects: weaver birds in Africa have unique building styles

By Maria Cristina Tello Ramos, Lecturer, University of Hull

From afar, the acacia trees look like they have been decorated with grass pom-poms. The birds have been busy, building shelters of straw and grass. Up close the real shape of the “pom-poms” becomes clear: grass tubes in the form of an upside down “U”, with an opening at each end.

These structures are the work of white-browed sparrow weavers (Plocepasser mahali).

White-browed sparrow weavers are cooperative breeders. Within a multi-generational family group, only one dominant pair…

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