Streaked weaver
Muthanallur Lake,Karnataka
There was a time back in Bosipota, West Bengal, when I used to visit birds in marsh habitats. I saw flocks of weavers (including Baya, Streaked, and Black-breasted) multiple times. Now, I have to separate the three subspecies and take individual pictures of each. This was the most difficult part for me because, in a single frame, other mixed weavers would also appear. However, it was incredible to see all the birds out there. In this picture, you can see a male and female Streaked Weaver, one after the other.
These pictures were taken at Muthanallur Lake in Bangalore. Both birds shown here are male. During the pre-monsoon season, they were busy building their nests. As usual, the male weavers took the initiative. They were not very shy and gave ample time for photography.
Unlike the Baya, they make their nests in reeds beside a small pond. I noticed that the nest was quite similar but not identical. First of all, they could not make it very large, as the reeds have limited capacity to hold even a minimum weight. I found it incredible how those birds skillfully tied their nests to the reeds.
There were around 4 or 5 nests and 3 pairs of streaked weavers. How lovely it is to witness those birds along with their nests!
Information of Streaked weaver
| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Approximate size(adult): | A small passerine about 17–18 cm in length. Breeding males have a bright yellow body with streaked brown wings, while females and non-breeding males are olive-brown with streaked upperparts. |
| Resident/ Migrate from: | Resident across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. |
| Migrate to: | Non-migratory, but may move locally in response to seasonal flooding or food availability. |
| Breeding season: | Breeds mainly from June to September, coinciding with the monsoon season. Nests are pendulous woven structures made from grass and reeds, typically suspended from reeds, bamboo, or palm fronds. Clutch usually contains 3–5 eggs. |
| Breed in: | Breeds in wetlands, reedbeds, and paddy fields, often in colonial groups. |
| Habitat: | Prefers marshes, wet grasslands, ponds, lakes, and irrigated fields. Often found in tall reeds or grasses near water. |
| Diet: | Primarily granivorous, feeding on grass seeds, grains, and cereals, supplemented with insects during breeding. Forages mainly in dense vegetation or on the ground. |