Mystery Bird: Taveta Golden Weaver, Ploceus castaneiceps

grrlscientist — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:59:14 +0000

tags: Taveta Weaver, Taveta Golden Weaver, Ploceus castaneiceps, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Taveta Golden Weaver, also known as the Taveta Weaver, Ploceus castaneiceps, photographed in the Pangani River Camp, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Dan Logen, January 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D300, 600 mm lens, ISO 800, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, Exposure compensation 0.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Sat, 02/27/2010 - 03:59

I suspect this one is named after one of the Bantu tribes from southern Kenya- a male still in non-breeding plumage or perhaps a sub-adult, showing a hint of the "chestnut" color on the "head" that specifies it's place...

...or the effects of peyote on the mind?

Looks to me like a Taveta Golden Weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps), based on the yellow body, orange spot on the back of the head, and lack of other markings.

and the Taveta are one of the Bantu tribes, good one David! I suppose "castaneiceps" means "chestnut headed"?

Absolutely correct Kim... castanum is the Latin for "chestnut" as seen in the Horse-chestnut tree species, Aesculus hippocastanum (hippo is "horse"), or the genus of true chestnuts Castanea... other bird species would include the Forest Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus casataneiceps), the Chestnut-crowned Gnateater (Conopophaga castaneiceps), and one of the many subspecies of Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia castaneiceps)...

A duck. Because it's yellow. Admittedly, it should be bobbling around in some soapy bathwater, but I'm guessing someone nailed it to that branch as a practical joke.

But blf, canaries are also yellow. And the habitat is also suitable for them. Not that I've ever nailed a canary to a branch. Definitely not.

Anyway, nothing was proved in court. Got it?