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There is no such thing as equality amongst the two to three
hundred known species of Ploceidae, or weaver birds. Though found across Asia and in
Australia, it is in East African countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia that the widest diversity of
these birds is found, and also where the artistic ability for which they are known becomes most
pronounced. Ploceidae are a varied family, and count among their number the most abundant
bird species on Earth. But regardless of species, one thing remains constant among the weaver birds:
it is only the male who does the work.
As in many species, the males can be told from the females by
their beautiful plumage – often a striking yellow or red but sometimes black. But it is clear that
in this case, plumage is not enough to secure a mate. For on top of this, the males of each colony
must compete each year in a test of skill and creativity which has made them famous: the weaving of
the most elaborate nests of any known bird. Many species go about this in unique ways, and many use
different materials. The buffalo-weaver of Kenya and Tanzania constructs raggedy nests of twigs
while the Indian weaver bird constructs a tidy, tight-fitting mesh of roots and tendrils in a
remarkable globe-and-tube shape.
As soon as mating season appears on the horizon, every male weaver
bird that answers ‘the call’ begins to behave more like a labourer than a casanova, and they begin
to construct nests in the hope of attracting the favour of some fickle female. But there’s no rest
for the wicked: they will hedge their bets by continuing to construct nests as long as there’s
somewhere appropriate to place them. Often this will involve building on a tree branch overhanging a
river – a spot unlikely to be accessible to most predators. This frequently results in branches
sagging from this heavy burden, as some species of weaver birds are known to build nests in groups
of up to 300.
If an approaching female is not immediately impressed by the
fruits of the male’s creative labours, he will chase her away and pursue a more easily-affected
female. As Victorian scientists (who were always quick to anthromorphosize!) would have put it, his
artistic vanity may have been wounded.
The advent of man has added new weapons to the weaver birds’
architectural arsenal. Many species now incorporate suitable plastic and string items alongside more
traditional elements. Perhaps a new movement is on the horizon.
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