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 [220] – Discovery [103]: Black-chinned Weaver on 2016-08-31
1. Basic biology
Identification. The Black-chinned Weaver is a large, dark-backed weaver with a yellow rump, black chin and throat contrasting with the yellow underparts. The female resembles the male but the top of the head is black. The male resembles ‘Reichenow’s Weaver’ P. baglafecht reichenowi (see Baglafecht Weaver) of East Africa, but the Black-chinned Weaver male has the nape yellow rather than black.
Distribution. The Black-chinned Weaver is known from south-east Gabon, central Congo-Brazzaville, western Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Bailundu highlands of central Angola (see red areas on map above, based on Birds of Africa). It is localised but not uncommon outside of Angola. It is very scarce in Angola and only ten specimens of this species are known from this country, including two in the Lubango Bird Skin Collection. No subspecies of the Black-chinned Weaver are recognised.
New sightings in recent years were reported from a new area – near Capaia in north-eastern Angola (dark blue circle on map). The global population has been estimated as at least 10000 pairs.
Habitat. The Black-chinned Weaver inhabits open savanna with bushes and trees up to 8 m tall, often near gallery forest. It occurs in pairs or small groups but keeps to the tops of low trees.
Food. Grass seeds and insects have been recorded as food items.
Breeding. Breeding information was unpublished until recently. The Black-chinned Weaver nests in small colonies, with up to ten nests in a single tree in Gabon. The nests are very large for weavers, woven mostly from coarse grass, giving a slightly untidy appearance. A collected nest was lined with finer grass, and had a ceiling (a layer of grass placed against the roof inside the main structure). The nest entrance is located on the side but near the top of the nest.
The eggs and chicks, breeding season and other aspects of breeding biology of the Black-chinned Weaver are still unknown.
Black-chinned Weaver nest,
figure from PHOWN
The above is based on Weaver Wednesday, a weekly series about weaver species.
This species text first appeared as Weaver Wednesday [42]: Black-chinned Weaver on 2013-04-03
2. Breeding facts
Pair bond
no information
Breeding season
not recorded
Nest site
no information
Nest building
no information
Colony size
semi-colonial
Clutch size
no information
Egg colour
no information
Egg size
no information
Incubation
no information
Chicks and nestling period
no information
Breeding information based on Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15.