How to identify southern masked weaver
- Short conical bill
- Breeding male has yellow plumage and a dark face mask
- Female and non-breeding plumage is streaked olive-brown
Do not identify from one clue alone.
Distance, age, sex, season and light can change an animal’s appearance. Combine several visible features and keep “not sure” as a valid answer.
Behaviour and habitat
What you may notice
Males weave hanging grass nests
What you may notice
Often feeds in small groups
What you may notice
Uses trees, reeds and gardens as well as natural habitat
Where it fits
Grassland, savanna, wetland edges, gardens and open woodland.
What can it be confused with?
Other yellow weavers differ in eye colour, mask shape, bill and range. Seasonal plumage makes photographs from several angles helpful.
View it responsibly
Watch nest building without touching a nest or breaking vegetation. Avoid playback around an active colony.