Shield weaver
| Shield weaver | ||||||||||||
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Tortoiseshell ( Malimbus scutatus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Malimbus scutatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Cassin , 1849) |
The shield Weber ( Malimbus scutatus ) is an up to 12-centimeter bird art from the family of weaver birds (Ploceidae) that only in West Africa occurs.
Appearance
The birds have black plumage. The male has a reddish color on the top of the head, while the female has a black color, another reddish spot is in the front part on the underside of the tail. The beak and legs are colored silver.
distribution and habitat
The tortoiseshell is found in the coastal forests of West Africa from Sierra Leone to Cameroon, but also in the vicinity of human settlements.
Way of life
The sociable birds live together in small groups and roam the undergrowth in search of food. They mainly eat insects, but also the seeds of the oil palm .
Reproduction
The spherical nests with a long entrance tube, which are made of leaves and grass, hang close together in the crowns of the palm trees. The female lays 2 to 4 eggs in this. The incubation period is 11 to 17 days, after which the young remain in the nest for another 2 to 3 weeks.
Danger
Since this species is widespread and no endangerment characteristics are known, the IUCN classifies this species as ( Least Concern ) harmless.
Source
- The great ENZYKLOPÄDIE DER VÖGEL Verlag: ORBIS VERLAG, Munich, 1996 Page: 346, 348 ISBN 3-572-00810-7
Web links
- Malimbus scutatus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.