Amblyospiza albifrons

This dark brown weaver with its large head and massive bill breeds in small colonies over marshes, rivers, dams with rank grass and reed/papyrus beds. I have watched them build their nests over a few days (usually 2 to 12), which start out as an cup suspended between two upright reeds and then progress to become a completed oval nest with a side entrance.

We first recorded this large billed weaver in January 2010 while visiting our family in Ocean View, south coast KwaZulu Natal. We also see them regularly in Melrose Bird Scantuary where a colony continues to breed year on year.