226
PLATE 106: WEAVERS, BISHOPS AND QUELEA
Rüppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula RB
L: 14.5. Male’s golden-yellow plumage, streaked mantle, dark chestnut mask with black
surround to bill diagnostic, in non-breeding season loses mask. Female olive-brown above with
dark streaks, buffish-white below washed yellow-buff on throat and breast. Gregarious, often
forming large flocks; noisy. Voice Song a wheezy chatter ending in insect-like hissing sounds; call
is a dry cheee-cheee. Habitat Crops, palm groves, savanna, wadis with acacias and other bushes
up to 2500m, commonest at lower altitudes. Nest suspended from acacia or other tree; colonial.
Parasitised by Diederik Cuckoo. Note Only native weaver in region.Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar E/I
L: 14. Short-tailed and thickset with heavy bill. Male with yellow crown and prominent streaks on
breast. Female and non-breeding male brown, streaked on breast and upperparts, including crown;
dark submoustachial streak and yellowish supercilium. Voice Song unmusical strained jumble;
calls loud chirt. Habitat Wetland scrub and reeds. Note Non-native escape; breeds Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE. Established at Al Ansab Wetland near Muscat.Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer E/I
L: 10. Small and compact; breeding male black below, with black hindneck collar and sulphur-
yellow crown, back and rump. Non-breeding male, female and juvenile streaked on sides below
with yellowish supercilium. Voice Buzzing and chipping notes. Habitat Grassland, marshes, scrub.
Note Non-native escape; recorded Oman, UAE.Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix E/I
L: 11–12. Sparrow-sized but short-tailed. Breeding male fiery red above with black on forehead and
throat; breast-band red, belly black. Female, juvenile and non-breeding male flat-crowned; buffy
and finely streaked below, bill small and pointed. (Similar Northern Red Bishop E. franciscanus [not
illustrated] occasionally reported; male has throat red and black on head reaches crown. Female
doubtfully separable.) Voice Call is thin, high, squeaky cheet; song consists of buzzy chirping.
Habitat Fields, grassy scrub, waterside canes. Note Non-native escape; recorded Oman, UAE.Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea E/I
L: 12. Stocky and short-tailed. Male in breeding dress distinctive; non-breeding male and female
streaked above, with prominent supercilium and all-red bill. Voice Chipping chatter. Habitat
Grasslands, reeds. Note Non-native escape; confirmed near Muscat.