White-headed Buffalo-Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli

Identification. The White-headed Buffalo-Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli is in the monotypic genus Dinemellia. The genus is unique among weavers in that the birds are largely white with orange-red rump, undertail coverts and wing shoulder (photo). The sexes are alike and the species colours of white, black and red are unmistakable in the field. Immature birds have pale orange tail coverts, rather than orange-red tail coverts.

Distribution. The White-headed Buffalo-Weaver occurs in eastern Africa. The map (above) is based on Birds of Africa, but central Ethiopia has been added to the distribution here as indicated by Ash J and Atkins J (2009. Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea. An atlas of distribution).

Two subspecies are recognised:

D. dinemelli dinemelli is found from Sudan to Kenya (yellow on the map) – the upperparts are dark brown.

D. dinemelli boehmi is found in SE Kenya and Tanzania (red on the map) – the upperparts are black.
The map also indicates current PHOWN records.

Habitat. The White-headed Buffalo-Weaver inhabits dry bush and savanna thornveld, including acacia patches in miombo in Tanzania. It is rare in grassland and riverine vegetation. It occurs in parties of 3-6 birds, and regularly joins mixed-species flocks in open woodland.

Food. They forage on the ground and feed mainly on insects but also eat seeds and fruit.

Breeding. The White-headed Buffalo-Weaver is monogamous and may be a co-operative breeder.

The nest is built by both sexes. The adults build an inner herbaceous shell of dry grass stems, and then cover the top and sides with a protective layer of thorny twigs. A short entrance tube faces downwards. Nest lining of grass, leaves or feathers is added.There may be a single nest, or several nests which probably belong to a pair. Nests are placed in trees at 2-4 m above the ground. Nests may be placed in trees that have colonies of biting ants, as additional protection from predators.

3-4 eggs are laid, which are greyish white or pale blue, with thick brownish blotches, often forming a cap at the thick end. The incubation period is unrecorded. Chicks are fed by both parents.

The nests may be used by Pygmy Falcons and Cut-throat Finches.

Breeding season
probably dependent on local rainfall: Aug-Sept and Dec in Sudan, Apr-Aug in Ethiopia, Feb-Jun and Sept in Somalia, May in Uganda, Feb-Mar, May, Jul and Nov in Kenya, and Dec in Tanzania

Nest site
usually 2-4 m above ground and resting on branch or suspended from end or underside of branch

Nest building
Nest built by both sexes

Colony size
n/a

Clutch size
3-4

Egg colour
greyish or pale blue, thickly blotched with olive-brown and grey-brown, markings sometimes forming cap at thick end

Egg size
average 24.6 x I 8 mm (Kenya)

Incubation
no data on incubation

Chicks and nestling period
chicks fed by both sexes, nestling period in captivity at least 14 days