{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | name = Chestnut weaver | image = Chestnut weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus) male.jpg | image_caption = | image2 = Chestnut weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus) female.jpg | image2_caption = Male (top) and female (bottom) at Lake Baringo, Kenya | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2017 |title=''Ploceus rubiginosus'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T22718975A111122394 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22718975A111122394.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Ploceus | species = rubiginosus | authority = Rüppell, 1840 }}
The '''chestnut weaver''' ('''''Ploceus rubiginosus''''') is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in eastern and south-western Africa. They can typically be found in Kenya, Botswana, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, and Namibia. Chestnut Weavers are considered locally abundant and of least concern. It is a nomadic as well as residential species that moves in response to rainfall and food availability.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Craig |first=Adrian J. F. K. |date=2020 |title=Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus), version 1.0 |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/chewea1/cur/introduction |journal=Birds of the World |language=en |doi=10.2173/bow.chewea1.01 |issn=2771-3105|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== Distribution and Habitat == Its general habitat is dry. It can be found in shrubland and thornveld, typically below 1,500 Meters.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22718975/263922621 |title=Ploceus rubiginosus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T22718975A263922621 |last=IUCN |date=2024-06-12 |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22718975A263922621.en |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Colonies of Chestnut Weavers can be found near Nairobi and on the Laikipia Plateau in Kenya, but only when there is good rain, they will also appear further South in Kenya, in Tsavo, from October to April.<ref name=":0" />
== Breeding == It is often seen in flocks, which is because they are colonial breeders; many birds nest together in one area. They breed in October in Ethiopia, in May in Somalia, May to July in Uganda, April to July in Kenya, as well as November in the northern arid region, March to April in Tanzania, April in Angola, and December to May in Namibia.<ref name=":0" /> Sometimes they will extend their breeding grounds into northwestern Botswana, being found in the Ngamiland District during years of good rain.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Hancock |first1=Peter |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt15hvxr0 |title=Birds of Botswana |last2=Weiersbye |first2=Ingrid |date=2016 |publisher=Princeton University Press |jstor=j.ctt15hvxr0 |isbn=978-0-691-15717-7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oschadleus |first=H Dieter |date=April 2012 |title=Lanioturdus |url=https://the-eis.com/elibrary/sites/default/files/downloads/literature/Chestnut%20Weaver%20Movements%20in%20Southern%20Africa.pdf |journal=Namibia Bird Club |volume=45 |pages=1, 11–14}}</ref>
== Relationship with Humans == During their breeding season, they are seen as pests by farmers because they form large colonies and destroy crops.<ref name=":0" /> In Kenya, they have been known to destroy Bulrush Millet and are considered a threat to the Millet, Sorghum, and rice grains.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gichuki |first=Nathaniel |date=1982 |title=The Ecology and Pest Status of Some Grani Vorous Birds in Eastern Machakos District, Kenya |url=https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/22186 |journal=University of Nairobi}}</ref>
== Description == Both the male and female look different from one another. The non-breeding male has dull red eyes, a grayish-brown head, with the rest of his body being an ombre of dark orange to a brighter orange; its wings are covered in black and beige colors, and it has a long brown tail. The female is a pale brown, with yellow coloring around their dark eyes, it has black edges around the feathers of its wings, and a brown tail. The female is also smaller; the male is 28-37 g, and the female is 25-31 g.<ref name=":0" /> It has a distinct song, it is a harsh, sizzling sound with occasional high-pitched chirps.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Feeding and Foraging == Their diet consists of seeds, grasses, cultivated grains, insects such as termites, and the nectar of aloes. Young chestnut weavers usually only eat insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, and crickets. They also forage in small groups, catching insects through the air or foraging on the ground.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * [http://weavers.adu.org.za/sp.php?spp=796 Chestnut weaver] - Species text in Weaver Watch. * Chestnut weaver - [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/812.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds]
{{Ploceidae}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q944413}}
chestnut weaver Category:Birds of East Africa Category:Birds of Southern Africa chestnut weaver Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
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