Baya weaver
Jayamangali blackbuck reserve,Karnataka
This is an incomplete yet abandoned nest that looked cool to me, but for the bird, it was neither sufficient nor impressive enough to breed in. Similarly, you will find a few more nests around the tree that are either abandoned or were built in previous years.
These colonies were found while heading towards the Jayamangali Black Buck Reserve in Karnataka. Suddenly, my attention was drawn to the roadside, where I saw multiple nests. Visually, it was stunning because the tree they had chosen for nesting also bloomed with yellow flowers. The birds were in their breeding plumage, and together, it looked incredible. Sometimes, I wonder if it is truly justified to call them weaver birds.
Muthanallur Lake,Karnataka
An absolutely beautiful, tiny little weaver bird. It is fascinating to watch the male bird build its nest during the breeding season. They prefer living in colonies and are generally found in flocks. During the breeding season, the male bird looks vibrant with its yellow head and belly. During the day, the male bird continuously collects materials from nearby areas and keeps weaving its nest to impress the female. For the Baya weaver, it is very challenging to impress a female bird by creating the perfect and beautiful nest; otherwise, the female will abandon it, even if it has already been built. Without a suitable nest, they cannot breed.
Halisahar Loco Shed yard,West Bengal
Information of Baya weaver
| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern | |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate size(adult): | Length about 15–17 cm; weight ~25–35 g. Small, sparrow-sized bird with a conical bill; males are bright yellow with black crown during breeding, females and non-breeding males are duller brown. | |
| Resident/ Migrate from: | Resident across South and Southeast Asia. Some local movements occur in response to rainfall and availability of nesting sites. | |
| Migrate to: | No long-distance migration; may disperse locally depending on seasonal changes and food availability. | |
| Breeding season: | Primarily May to September, coinciding with monsoon season. Males build nests in colonies to attract females | |
| Breed in: | Nests are pendant, woven structures made of grass, reeds, and palm strips, often suspended from acacia, palm, or other thorny trees. Clutch size is 3–5 eggs. Female incubates while male continues nest construction; both feed chicks. | |
| Habitat: | Prefers open grasslands, cultivated fields, wetlands, riverine trees, and village groves. Often seen near water and human settlements. | |
| Diet: |
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