While walking down a jungle path, I was fortunate to catch sight of a pair of nesting Bishop’s Weavers in the midst of their mating ritual. I watched and took pictures as they repeated the entire ritual several times. I was about 15 feet from the nest and used a 100-300mm zoom lens. The picture below are cropped from the original photographs.
Bishop's Weaver Male: Nesting and Display
Both the male (above left) and the female take turns building the nest. They strip thin, thread-lake sections of fiber from the edges of long leaves and use them to build their nest. They push the material through the edge of the nest with their beaks and pull it through from the other side. I watched them take a single “thread” and sew it around several times. This weaving action is where they get their name. When the male and female are near the nest at the same time, the male "displays" (upper right) by fluffing out the feathers on the back of his head and neck. Sometimes he displays at the entrance to the nest while she inspects his work. I have watched a male start three different nests in a single day.
Bishop's Weaver Female: Acceptance
Once in a while, the female shows her approval by perching near the nest, raising her tale feathers and ruffling her wings in a rapid sideways motion. This is her invitation to mate.
Bishop's Weavers: Mating
The male did not hesitate in accepting the female’s offer. The whole sequence of events was fascinating. I am fortunate that this jungle is only an hour from my home. This sequence of photos was all taken at the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Site Directory | Home PageAdded November 26, 1999
