Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Scientific Name: Dinemellia dinemelli

Range: Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan south to Lake Tanganyika, into Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania

Habitat: Acacia woodlands, dry brush and thorn-bush scrub

Diet: Wild: Seeds, fruits, insects
Zoo: Fruit, insectivorous diet

Gestation: Incubation: 12-17 days

Litter: Clutch size: 3-4 eggs

Description: Length is about 9 inches. This bird is somewhat parrot-like in appearance, not like other weavers. It is a heavy-looking bird, white from the head and nape through the throat down to the flanks. The back is brown, the wing bars, primary and secondary feathers are brown edged with white or cream. The bend of the wing is orange. The tail is squared and brown. When the bird is in flight a bright red-orange rump and upper and under tail coverts are visible. Both sexes look the same. The call is loud, harsh and parrot-like, and it may also utter series of notes described as bubbling, twittering or chattering.

Behavior: They are found in pairs or small flocks, sometimes mingled with some Starling species. This is a shy bird, which feeds on the ground near acacia trees. They generally do not migrate.

Reproduction: Breeding begins in August/September in the equatorial regions, and March/April in the southern end of the range. Sometimes they will form a tight colony, nesting in adjacent trees, but more often the colony is spread out. The male builds a rough, retort-shaped nest suspended from an acacia branch. When completed he will hang from the entrance, flapping his wings and calling. If a female accepts the nest she will line it with soft grasses and some feathers. He will then begin to defend a small area around the nest, and mate with the female. Once mated, he may build another nest and attract another female. Nestlings are fed seeds and insects, but data is not clear on parental responsibilities.

Did You Know? It is not uncommon to find some individuals which are more or less albino except for bright orange areas.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the African Elephant Crossing at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.