Baya Weaver

About the Baya Weaver

The baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaverbird found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Flocks are found in grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth. They are known for their hanging retort shaped nests woven from leaves, usually found on thorny trees or palm fronds, near or hanging over water where predators cannot easily reach. They are widespread and common within their range and are prone to local, seasonal movements in response to rain and food availability.

Five subspecies are recognised. The nominate race P. p. philippinus is found through much of mainland India while P. p. burmanicus is found eastwards into Southeast Asia. The population in southwest India is darker above and referred to as subspecies P. p. travancoreensis.

In 1760, French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson described the baya weaver in his Ornithologie based on a specimen he believed, incorrectly, to have been collected in Philippines. He used the French name Le gros-bec des Philippines and the Latin Coccothraustes Philippensis. Brisson's Latin names do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological... Wikipedia →