Rufous-tailed Weaver male, figure from Sharpe (1890)
Rufous-tailed Weaver female, figure from Shelley (1905)Rufous-tailed Weaver distribution, type locality circled
Introduction
The Rufous-tailed Weaver was formally described by Anton Reichenow, a German ornithologist and herpetologist.The Rufous-tailed Weaver was collected by Dr Gustav A Fischer, a German African explorer.
Fischer settled as a physician in Zanzibar in 1876, from where he undertook expeditions to Tanzania and Kenya. Fischer collected some birds in Zanzibar and then undertook a trip along the Kenyan coast where he collected some Fire-fronted Bishops.
His third trip started in late 1882 on the Tanzanian coast and he followed the Pangani River upstream. When he reached the Pare Mountains in March 1883, he collected the type specimen of the Black-capped Social Weaver. Fischer visited Europe and then returned to Tanzania in 1885. On 1 August 1885 he left Pangani and travelled south to Irangi and then northwards towards Lake Victoria. On 24 October 1885 he found Rufous-tailed Weavers on the Wembere Steppe at the southern edge of the range of this species. Fischer briefly described the nests and habits of this weaver.
The first illustration of the Rufous-tailed Weaver was a line drawing of the head published by Sharpe (1890). The next illustration to be published was a colour painting of an adult Rufous-tailed Weaver in Shelley (1905).
Scientific citation
Histurgops ruficauda Reichenow 1887, Journ. f. Orn., 35, p.67, Wembere Steppe, central Tanganyika Territory.
Meaning of names
ruficauda, Latin: rufus, red; cauda, the tail.
First English name
Rufous-tailed Weaver (Shelley 1905).
Alternate names
None.
Collector
Gustav A. Fischer.
Date collected
24 Oct 1885.
Locality collected
Wembaere steppe, Tanzania.
Type specimens
There is a type in the Berlin Museum.
Rufous-tailed Weaver, type ZMB_30733
The above is based on Weaver Wednesday 2, a weekly series about the discovery of each weaver species.
This species text first appeared as Weaver Wednesday [199] – Discovery [82]: Rufous-tailed Weaver on 2016-04-06
1. Basic biology
Rufous-tailed Weaver, figure from wikipedia
Identification. The Rufous-tailed Weaver is grey-brown with a scaly and mottled head and body and rufous tail and wing-patch. Sexes are similar. The eye colour is unique among weavers in being bluish-white (but brown in juveniles). The Rufous-tailed Weaver is in the monotypic genus Histurgops. The meaning of Histurgeo is “to weave (i.e. a weaver bird)” and ops means “face” so the genus name means weaver-faced! (or appearance of a weaver).
Distribution. The distribution map (above) is based on Birds of Africa, shows the restricted range of the Rufous-tailed Weaver in northern Tanzania (purple). However, on 4 July 2000 Dave Richards recorded a group of 5 birds in the Maasai Mara in Kenya, near the border. More records followed from 2007 onwards and the first breeding record in Kenya was recorded by Colin Jackson, as a colony of 7 nests, with chicks, on 14 April 2010. The Kenyan records are shown in green. No subspecies have been described for this species.
Habitat. The Rufous-tailed Weaver inhabits savanna thornveld, especially on black cotton soils.
Food. The Rufous-tailed Weaver forages on the ground, feeding on seeds, insects and fruit. The birds run on the ground, their legs being longer than those of mostly arboreal weavers, and flocks also make short flights low across the ground while feeding. They often associate with starlings or buffalo-weavers. They are tame and confiding around some national parks and lodges, where they may beg for food.
Breeding. The Rufous-tailed Weaver is monogamous and colonial, with up to 30 nests per tree. They are resident at their nesting colonies and continue building all year. The nest is a ball of grass with a short, wide entrance spout. Initially the nest has two openings with one being closed when eggs are laid, as happens in White-browed Sparrow-weavers.
Rufous-tailed Weaver, figure from PHOWN
Gall acacias are preferred as nest sites, with nests usually placed 1.5-4 m above the ground.
Although common within its range, incubation and nestling periods are not known for this species. The eggs may rest in the nest with no lining, or some feathers may be used to line the nest. The eggs (clutch 2-3) are pale blue, with grey and brown markings.
Nests may be used for breeding by Superb Starlings, and for roosting by Fischer’s Lovebirds.
The above is based on Weaver Wednesday, a weekly series about weaver species.
This species text first appeared as Weaver Wednesday [15]: Rufous-tailed Weaver on 2012-09-26
2. Breeding facts
Pair bond
Monogamous; colonial
Breeding season
in May-Jun, Aug and Oct-Feb
Nest site
placed 1.5-4 m above ground in gall acacia (e.g. Acacia drepanolobium or Acacia tortilis)
Nest building
n/a
Colony size
up to 30 nests in one tree
Clutch size
2-3
Egg colour
pale blue with grey and brown streaks and scrawls, markings sometimes forming wreath at thick end
Egg size
average size 27.3 x 17.3 mm
Incubation
No information
Chicks and nestling period
No information
Breeding information based on Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15.