The giant weaver is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is endemic to São Tomé Island. It can climb trees and branches, rather like a treecreeper or sittella. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Region
Gulf of Guinea islands (West Africa)
Typical Environment
Restricted to subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests on São Tomé. It favors mature forest and well-structured secondary growth with large trees, where it can climb trunks and larger limbs. Birds may also use forest edges and shaded plantation mosaics when canopy connectivity is present. Nesting usually occurs in quieter forest patches with suitable hanging sites over clearings or streams.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea, the giant weaver is unusually adept at climbing trunks and branches, reminiscent of treecreepers. Like other weavers, it constructs intricate, hanging nests woven from plant fibers. It forages methodically along bark and limbs, gleaning small prey. Habitat loss in lowland forests is its primary threat.
Temperament
shy and arboreal
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between trees
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs within forest interiors. It builds woven, pendulous nests from grasses and fibers, suspended from branches. Breeding behavior is thought to be similar to other weavers, with males playing a key role in nest construction.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of dry chatters and buzzy notes interspersed with thin whistles. Calls are more often given from within the canopy and can be hard to localize in dense forest.
Plumage
Mostly olive-brown above with paler, buffy underparts and faint streaking; plumage is relatively plain for a weaver. Wings and tail are darker, with subtle edging. The bill is heavy and suited for probing and picking, and the stance often appears trunk-clinging.
Diet
Primarily gleans insects and other small arthropods from bark, branches, and foliage. It may probe into crevices and beneath mosses and lichens. Occasional consumption of fruits or nectar has been noted when available.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in mid to upper forest strata, especially on larger trunks and boughs. Often forages along edges of clearings and along shaded stream corridors within forest.
