Buffalo Weaver

The buffalo weaver is one of Africa’s most common, timeless and rugged safari images - as well as being a member of the dimuntive Little Five. Instantly recognisable, sleek, and often tracked by their definitive messy bird’s nests, these are among the biggest varieties of the weaver group.

Buffalo weavers tend to group themselves into loosely ordered colonies, nests constructed on the higher boughs of trees and in forked branches. As far as actual nest building goes, the Buffalo Weaver is considered among the least capable birds in this regard, with their oversized, often unattractive and untidy twig nests. These nested colonies blanket certain areas of the park, easily spotted from safari vehicles. Nest sizes can reach lengths of up to 23 cm.

With attractive colouring (in the female bird), made of of orange, black, and white feathered sections, the Buffalo Weaver is considered an extremely beautiful find among bird watchers. This is an impression that lasts as long as it takes to arrive within ear shot of this bird, and to be introduced to its extremely loud callings, and rauckous behaviour.

These birds can be located chiefly in dry savanna and acacia woodland areas.