Weaver species list / RELATED SPECIES: Eastern Golden Weaver / Golden-backed Weaver / Holub’s Golden Weaver / Juba Weaver / Katanga Masked Weaver / Lufira Masked Weaver / Ruppell’s Weaver / Southern Masked Weaver / Vitelline Masked Weaver
IUCN: Least concern Discovery: 098
Categories:
Discovery
 
IntroductionThe Juba Weaver was formally described by Tommaso Salvadori, an Italian zoologist and ornithologist who published at least 300 ornithological papers.The Juba Weaver was collected by Prince Eugenio Ruspoli, an Italian aristocrat (descendent of the famous noble family in Rome) and naturalist. Ruspoli explored the region between Ethiopia and Somalia during two visits, the first being in 1891. During his second expedition to north-east Africa (1892-1893) he explored the regions around Lake Rudolf. Ruspoli collected only 35 specimens of 32 species (Salvadori 1896). On 4 December 1893 he was killed by an elephant while hunting around Lake Bissan Abbaia (Abaya), north-east of Lake Stefania. The specimens Ruspoli had collected, including birds, insects, reptiles and mammals, were sent to the Museum of Genoa in Italy, but the specimens were in bad condition and without proper labels. Salvadori recognised 3 new species: Juba Weaver, Salvadori’s Serin Serinus xantholaema, and Ruspoli’s Turaco Turacus ruspolii. Although the type locality is often given as Somalia, these species would have been collected in present day Ethiopia. The first illustration of the Juba Weaver was of an adult male, published several decades after first description, by Mackworth (1955). The next illustrations were printed in field guides from 1995 onwards. Scientific citationHyphantornis dichrocephalus Salvadori 1896a, Ann. Mus. Genova 16(2), p.45, Italian Somaliland and Gallaland. Meaning of namesdicrocephalus, Greek: Dikhrous, two-coloured; -kephalos, headed. First English nameChestnut-headed Golden Weaver (Shelley 1905b). Alternate namesChestnut-headed Golden Weaver, Jubaland Weaver, Salvadori’s Weaver, Somali Yellow-backed Weaver. CollectorPrince Eugenio Ruspoli. Date collected1892 or 1893. Locality collectedEthiopia. Type specimensThe type is in the Museum of Genoa. |
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 [215] – Discovery [98]: Juba Weaver on 2016-07-27
1. Basic biology
 Identification. The Juba Weaver is a poorly known weaver with a small range. The male (photo: photographer János Oláh / Birdquest) is golden yellow with the head to nape and breast dark chestnut to blackish. The plain yellow-green back is not streaked as is the Village Weaver. The female lacks yellow underparts of the male, has a buff breast and flanks, and brown eye. The female is best separated from the similar female Vitelline Masked Weaver by a 2-tone bill being dark above and light below. Distribution. The Juba Weaver occurs in Ethiopia, Somalia and extreme NE Kenya but breeding is only known from Ethiopia (see map above, based on Birds of Africa). No races are recognised. Habitat. The Juba Weaver inhabits riverine bush, short grass savanna, Acacia-Commiphora thornbush, and semi-desert savanna. Food. The Juba Weaver feeds on seeds, and probably also on insects. It is generally found in pairs and small groups. Breeding. The Juba Weaver is probably polygynous. It is colonial, nesting in small groups in trees or reeds. The nest is oval, with virtually no entrance tunnel. It is woven from grass, and lined with fine grass. The nest is suspended from the tip of a branch or at side of a reed. The eggs (clutch 2) are pale greenish-blue or greyish-green, spotted with brown and lilac. Nothing else is known about breeding. |
The above is based on Weaver Wednesday, a weekly series about weaver species.
This species text first appeared as Weaver Wednesday [95]: Juba Weaver on 2014-04-09
2. Breeding facts
| Pair bond Probably polygynous Breeding season Nest site Nest building Colony size Clutch size Egg colour Egg size Incubation Chicks and nestling period |
Breeding information based on Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15.
3. Photos of Weaver Nests
 Vm 20181 |
Thumb-nails of recent PHOWN records