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Asian Golden Weaver Feeding Juvenile

on 8th June 2015

“We have previously documented the globally near-threatened Asian Golden Weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus) building nests and in courtship at Tampines Eco Green LINK. Although no juveniles were seen that time, a female fetching food back to her nest and leaving with faecal sac in her beak was obvious proof of live chicks in the nest. However, nobody seems to have seen juveniles outside of the nests.

“In full breeding plumage, the Asian Golden Weaver male is unmistakable in its bright yellow coat with a contrasting black face (above).

“The appearance of the female (above) is very similar to the locally common Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) (below) and I find them near-impossible to separate.

“I would presume that juveniles of the Asian Golden Weaver to be similar in appearance to the Baya Weavers. Hence, juveniles seen may have been mistaken for the common Baya Weaver.

“On 30 May 2015, I managed to capture my first record shots of a male feeding a juvenile at Lorong Halus (above, below).

“Note that I have ruled out courtship feeding as there was a whitish oral flange present at the base of the beak of the bird receiving food; thus indicating it to be a juvenile. More observations of the pair were not possible as they disappeared further into the grassland which is inaccessible.

“Earlier that day, a juvenile Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) was also seen (above). Note the black bill and whitish oral flange at the base of the bill for the juvenile compared to the reddish bill of adult (below).

“It appears that alien birds have adapted well enough to breed in the local environment.”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
31st May 2015

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

8 Responses

  1. one of the simplest methods to distinguish P hypoxanthus from P philippinus is by observing the bill. P hypoxanthus has shorter and bulkier bill compared to the more slender and taper bill of P philippinus…

      1. is there any information and other documentation about the nest of P hypoxanthus; probably about the plant where the nest was built, its height from the ground and also its materials?
        i’m an aviculturist and also birdwatcher; breeding asian golden weaver is one of my dreams sir.
        any information about its nest and breeding behavior would be very valuable for me…

          1. thank you so much for the information sir…
            i suppose they like a nesting site that is near water; i was once observe a colony in lamongan east java that choose a nesting site on a swamp with tall grasses and thatch.

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