Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula

Identification. The adult male Rüppell’s Weaver is yellow with a red eye and a chestnut mask which may appear black from a distance. Females and non-breeding males are dull coloured.

Distribution. Rüppell’s Weaver is the only weaver found naturally in the Middle East.

A few subspecies have been described for Rüppell’s Weaver in the past, but are no longer considered valid. This species was first described and illustrated (painting) by Eduard Rüppell, who also described the Lesser Masked, Chestnut and White-headed Buffalo Weavers from North-East Africa.

The distribution map (above) of Rüppell’s Weaver is based on Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15, showing the current PHOWN records. It has been recorded in NE and E Sudan, N Eritrea (including Dahlak Archipelago in the Red Sea), C and NE Ethiopia, Djibouti, N Somalia, and S Arabian Peninsula (SW Saudi Arabia, Yemen, W Oman).

There is an introduced population of Rüppell’s Weaver in Kuwait.

Habitat. Rüppell’s Weaver is found in savanna, arid coastal plains, cultivated areas, wetlands and gardens.

Food. Rüppell’s Weaver feeds on seeds, including cereal crops. It may flock in thousands and cause crop damage, while in Arabia flocks are smaller.

Breeding. Rüppell’s Weaver often nests in colonies of several males, but single-male colonies may occur. In Yemen colony size varies from 4 to 50 nests. Nest sites include a variety of tree species, often thorny species, and often built over water.

Males are polygnous and will breed with up to three females, and typically build up to eight globular nests. The nests are woven from grass or long strips of palm fronds. lnitially the nest lacks an entrance tunnel, but a tunnel of 50 mm may be added later.

Two or three eggs are laid and these vary in colour – either white or blue, usually heavily spotted, sometimes only finely speckled, with brick-red. Incubation is by the female.

Usually in polygnous weavers the female does most of the work of feeding chicks. In Rüppell’s Weaver the male feeds the young chicks by regurgitation while the female broods them. After four days, both sexes feed the chicks.

Breeding season
Sudan, season May-Aug in Gedaref area, Mar-May elsewhere; breeds in all months except Jun-Aug in Eritrea, all months except Mar-Apr in Ethiopia; Feb-Mar, May-Jun and Nov in Somalia; in Yemen mainly Mar-Aug, but in any month when rain falls (one observer noted breeding in Feb, Apr, Jun-Jul, Oct and Dec); Dec-Mar in Saudi Arabia and Mar-Sept in Oman

Nest site
supended 2-6 m above ground, where possible over water, from end of branch in tree, bush or mature durra Sorghum bicolor) stalks, sometimes eucalypt (Eucalytus), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) or tamarind trees (Tamarindus), in Arabia also Ziziphus spina

Nest building
woven by male

Colony size
sometimes single male with up to three females and eight nests. Often colonial nester

Clutch size
2-3 eggs

Egg colour
white or deep blue, usually heavily spotted with brick-red, sometimes only finely speckled

Egg size
average size of 17 eggs 20 x 13.8 mm (Somalia)

Incubation
incubation by female, period 14-15 days

Chicks and nestling period
chicks brooded by female, initially food brought by male, which feeds chicks by regurgitation, after day 4 both sexes feed, nestling period c. 18 days