Southern Masked Weaver
Ploceus velatus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPloceidae (Weavers and Allies)
- GenusPloceus (Typical Weavers)
- SpeciesPloceus velatus (Southern Masked Weaver)
About the Southern Masked Weaver
The southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus), or African masked weaver, is a resident breeding bird species common throughout southern Africa. This weaver is very widespread and found in a wide range of habitats, including shrubland, savanna, grassland, open woodland, inland wetlands and semi-desert areas. It also occurs in sub-urban gardens and parks.
The southern masked weaver is 11–14.5 cm (4.3–5.7 in) long with a short, strong, conical bill and pinkish brown legs. The adult male in breeding plumage has a black face, throat and beak, red eye, bright yellow head and underparts, and a plain yellowish-green back,
The female has a pinkish-brown bill, brown or red-brown eye and is dull greenish-yellow, streaked darker on the upper back. The throat is yellowish, fading to off-white on the belly. The non-breeding male resembles the female but retains the red eye. The juvenile of this species is like the female.
The call is a harsh swizzling, similar to other weavers. It also utters a sharp chuk alarm note. The southern masked weaver nests in colonies, mainly from September to January. Males have several female... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Cape Weaver
Ploceus capensis
Village Weaver
Ploceus cucullatus
Red Bishop
Euplectes orix
Yellow-rumped Widowbird
Euplectes capensis
Long-tailed Widow-bird
Euplectes progne
Red-collared Widowbird
Euplectes ardens
Red-billed Quelea
Quelea quelea
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes axillaris
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Euplectes afer
Pied Starling
Lamprotornis bicolor
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
African Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 4 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 5 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 6 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 7 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 8 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 10 | Mana Pools National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 11 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 12 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 13 | Gonarezhou National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 14 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 15 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 16 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 17 | Lower Zambezi National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 18 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 19 | Gorongosa National Park | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | |
| 20 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 21 | Liwonde National Park | 🇲🇼 Malawi | |
| 22 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Southern Masked Weaver in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Southern Masked Weaver in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Southern Masked Weaver in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.