The olive-naped weaver is a bird species in the family Ploceidae. It is found in West Africa from Senegal and Gambia to Cameroon.
Region
West Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from Senegal and The Gambia east through Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and into western Cameroon. It inhabits wooded savannas, forest edges, gallery forests, and secondary growth near rivers and wetlands. The species adapts well to agroforestry mosaics, gardens, and village outskirts. Colonies are often placed near water, where suitable nesting trees or palms are available.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
A colonial nest-builder, the olive-naped weaver crafts intricately woven, hanging nests from strips of grass and palm leaves, often over water to deter predators. Males display at nest sites with fluttering flights and constant chatter to attract females. It thrives in human-modified landscapes, frequently foraging around farms and villages. The species is widespread in West Africa and is not currently considered threatened.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Highly colonial during the breeding season, with many nests clustered on a single tree or along a watercourse. Males weave and display at partially built nests, and females select and finish the chosen nest. Pairs are seasonally monogamous, and colonies can be noisy hubs of activity throughout the day.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A busy mix of chatters, squeaks, and buzzing notes delivered in rapid sequences. Males call persistently from nest sites, interspersing short songs with display flights.
Plumage
Compact, short-winged weaver with a bright yellow body and an olive-tinged nape and mantle; wings and tail are darker and more olive-brown. Males in breeding plumage are brighter with crisper contrast; females and non-breeding birds are duller yellow-olive with faint streaking on the back. Bill is stout and conical, adapted for weaving and seed-cracking.
Diet
Feeds on grass seeds, grain, and various small insects such as beetles, caterpillars, and termites, especially during the breeding season. It will also take nectar and small fruits opportunistically. Flocks often exploit recently harvested fields and disturbed ground for spilt grain and emerging invertebrates.
Preferred Environment
Forages in low shrubs, tall grasses, and on the ground at field margins and savanna edges. Frequently visits riparian vegetation and village gardens, moving between cover and open patches.
