These birds of the family Ploceidae inhabit sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and the tropical regions of Asia. They are often grouped into communities, made up, in some cases, of up to 600 individuals . Their nests, which males build by knotting and braiding branches, leaf strands, or plant stems, are highly elaborate.
Although they vary in shape, they generally have a funnel-like entrance that gives access to a spherical chamber . To finish the job, the animals have to make hundreds of trips in search of materials. However, they strive at it. And it is that their good work depends on finding a partner . Once finished, they show the nest to the females, who will evaluate its quality and resistance.
The members of some species nest very close to each other, as a defense measure, so that the colony ends up forming a large structure, as if it were an immense block of neighbors. So much so, that with their nests they almost completely cover trees and telephone poles.
Image: Rui Ornelas / CC
