Trivia question for Jul-06-2011

Olivia liked the bright colors of this bird enough to want to make it her trivia for today.  This often abundant species occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, including woodlands and human habitation, and frequently forms large noisy colonies in towns, villages and hotel grounds.

These guys feed principally on seeds and grain, and can be a crop pest, but it will readily take insects, especially when feeding young, which partially redresses the damage to agriculture.

The female of these birds rejects any egg that looks unlike the rest of her clutch.  This is probably a defensive tactic against a Cuckoo that frequently lays its eggs in their nest.

So here are Olivia’s questions:  Tell us what this bird is called and how it got its name.  Also, tell us why these birds sometimes nest in the same trees as wasps?

Good luck 😉

Answer:

Congratulations to our great supporter Gina for being the first with the correct answer.  The bird we featured is the Village Weaver. The Village Weaver, also known as the Spotted-backed Weaver or Black-headed Weaver, is a species of bird found in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been introduced to Hispaniola, Mauritius and Réunion.

These birds get their name from its habit of nesting near settlements and villages.  They often build their nest in trees with wasp nest because the wasps add an extra layer of protection from possible intruders.  Here is more on these smart birds: Village Weaver

Thanks for playing along 😉