Weaver species list / RELATED SPECIES: Black-billed Weaver / Black-chinned Weaver / Black-necked Weaver / Clarke’s Weaver / Lesser Masked Weaver / Little Weaver / Loanga Weaver / Slender-billed Weaver / Spectacled Weaver / Strange Weaver / Tanganyika Masked Weaver
IUCN: Vulnerable Discovery: 071
Categories: IUCN, Ploceus 5: ‘Sitagra’, palm
Discovery
  
IntroductionThe Loanga Weaver was formally described by Jean Louis Cabanis, a German ornithologist. He described 19 weavers, of which 3 are valid weaver species, while working at the Berlin Museum.The Loanga Weaver was collected by Julius Falkenstein, a German physician, who was based in Cabinda from 1873-76. One of his companions on the German Loango Expedition was Paul Gussfeldt who wrote a travel book about this expedition. They explored Cabinda and surrounding DRC. In addition to collecting bird specimens, Falkenstein sent the second gorilla specimen back to Europe. The first illustration of the Loanga Weaver was published in Reichenow (1886). The next illustration relating to this species was a sketch of a male published in Bannerman (1949). The female was collected as late as 1951, described by Chapin (1954), and first illustrated by Westoll (1998). Scientific citationHyphantornis subpersonata Cabanis 1876, J. Orn., 24, p.92 Chinchoxo, Cabinda. Meaning of namessubpersonatus, Latin: sub-, related to; personatus, masked; ref. relationship of this weaver to other masked weavers. First English nameLoango Slender-billed Weaver (Shelley 1905). Alternate namesLoanga Slender-billed Weaver, Loango Slender-billed Weaver, Loango Weaver, Western Golden Weaver. CollectorDr Julius Falkenstein. Date collectedBetween 1873-76. Locality collectedChinchoncho = Chinchoxo, Cabinda, Angola. Type specimensThere should be a type specimen in the Berlin Museum but it was not seen on a visit there. |
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 [188] – Discovery [71]: Loanga Weaver on 2016-01-20
1. Basic biology
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Identification. The Loanga Weaver (or Loanga Slender-billed Weaver) is a small and slender-billed weaver. The male has an extensive black mask from the crown to the face, throat and upper breast, surrounded by golden-brown. The female is olive-green above, and dull yellow below with a buff wash. This species is slightly larger and less bright yellow than the Slender-billed Weaver. Distribution. The Loanga Weaver is restricted to a narrow coastal strip on the west coast of Africa from Gabon south through Congo, extreme south-west DRCongo and Cabinda (Angola, where the type specimen was collected) (see red on map above, based on Birds of Africa). In 2007 it was also recorded in northern Angola. Having a restricted global range, no subspecies are recognised. The Loanga Weaver is rated as Vulnerable (one of 6 weavers are in this category) because it is a very poorly known species. Recent surveys, however, suggest that its range may possibly be more extensive, and its numbers may be larger, than previously thought. The Loango Weaver may be able to survive in urban or suburban areas, although at lower densities than the more common Slender-billed Weaver.  Habitat. The Loanga Weaver is usually found near water and inhabits swamp-forest, mangrove and savanna margins on the landward side, palm savanna and clearings in secondary forest, generally within 3 km of the coast; it also occurs in thick spiny palms and beach scrub. It is shy and skulking. Food. The diet of the Loanga Weaver is unknown, but its slender bill suggests that it is mainly insectivorous.  Breeding. The Loanga Weaver nests in a variety of trees, especially palms Phoenix reclinata, but also mangroves and once in a Eucalyptus tree. The breeding season seems to be either irregular or spread throughout the year. Nests have a retort shape, with an entrance tube of about 10 cm long. Much of this breeding information is based on a recent study of the species by Guillaume Passavy (see here). One egg in the British Museum was described as greyish-buff, spotted brown mainly round the large end (Walters 2006a). |
The above is based on Weaver Wednesday, a weekly series about weaver species.
This species text first appeared as Weaver Wednesday [57]: Loanga Weaver on 2013-07-17
2. Breeding facts
| Pair bond no information 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 13824 |
 Vm 2008 |
 Vm 2007 |
Thumb-nails of recent PHOWN records