Black-breasted weaver spotted in Erode

Th black-breasted weaver spotted at a village in the Gobichettipalayam area
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A black-breasted weaver, also known as Bengal weaver or black-throated weaver, was recently spotted in Gobichettipalayam, Erode, by birdwatchers.

A team led by Maheswaran Deivasigamani observed the bird at a village in the Gobichettipalayam area. The sparrow-sized bird, with binomial name, Ploceus benghalensis, is a resident of the northern river plains of India. The team members claimed this was the first sighting of the bird in the district, according to eBird records. They noted that the bird was spotted during its winter migration.

The male bird, in breeding plumage, features a brilliant golden-yellow crown and variable amounts of black on the head and breast. Some males have an entirely black head. Like other weavers, the black-breasted weaver constructs nests using reeds and mud. Female birds select a male bird by evaluating the quality of the nest built by it, the members added.