Cape Weaver

The Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis) is a species of bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae, found in southern Africa. The Cape weaver is omnivorous with a diet that is evenly divided between animal and plant matter, particularly seeds, fruit, and nectar. It forages in a variety of ways on the ground, in tree foliage, gleaning food from bark, and hawking insects in the air. The Cape Weaver forms flocks when it is not breeding and assembles in sizable roosts all year long. These roosts may be shared by other birds, including other weaver species.

The Cape weaver is a robust 17 cm tall bird with olive-brown upper parts that are streaked, as well as a strong, pointed conical bill. The breeding male has a white iris, an orange face, and a yellow head and underparts. The mature female's head, breasts, and lower belly are all shades of olive yellow that fade to pale yellow. The eyes of a female are brown, but 19 percent of them have pale eyes in the summer, making it impossible to tell a woman's gender only by looking at her eyes. Young birds resemble females.