Saturday, 20 February 2016

SATURDAY CRITTERS - Southern Masked Weaver in South Africa

Following on from the last few days when Martin, Marie and I stopped at to have a picnic in the grounds of a restaurant on our way to spending 5 days in Kruger National Park, I saw this Southern Masked Weaver.  Sorry about the blue tinge to these photographs. I had the wrong setting on my camera!


Southern Masked Weaver

16 cm


Breeding male told from Village Weaver by its mostly plain, greenish back (not mottled black and yellow). Larger than Lesser Masked Weaver, with a heavier bill and red (not whitish) eyes.


Female and non-br. male much duller, with buffy-yellow breast and white belly; bill paler and eyes duller red-brown. 


Voice: Typical swizzling weaver song; sharp ‘zik, zik' call.


Common resident in savanna, grassland, watercourses in arid areas, fields and gardens. Breeds in singlemale colonies (rarely multi-male) in trees or reeds; builds a neatly woven nest with short entrance tube; polygynous.


I am linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS.

Thanks for your visit and also to all those who  leave me comments.

44 comments:

  1. Colourful little birds Margaret.

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  2. Beautiful images, Margaret. I like the blue tinge! I wish I had known when you were in Johannesburg. We're a bit to far from that city but I would have loved to chat to you on the phone. Put a voice to the blogger. Are you back from Costa Rica? Have a great weekend. Jo

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  3. Thanks for sharing these amazing photos and facts, Margaret! Magnificent birds!

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  4. I´ve never seen this bird in nature, but his is a wonderfull exemlpare!
    Greetings from Germany
    My entry

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  5. What a pretty bird he is! The blue background is fine .. We came to see the bird anyway! And it really sets off the beautiful bright yellow! If I kept a virtual life list this guy would be on it , because I'm pretty sure I've never seen it n a blog before. ;))

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  6. Wonderful photos! What a beautiful bird! The blue tinge doesn't disturb at all.
    Have a lovely weekend!

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  7. What a beautiful bird!!
    Have a happy weekend!

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  8. I don't think the blue tinge detracts from the images of the weaver Margaret.

    If only I had a pound for every time I took a picture at the wrong setting.....

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  9. Okay blue is my most favorite color, (all shades too) but these photos are just incredible, in their vivid richness! So very lovely. Nature at its best.

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  10. Love the yellow, and enjoyed these bird photos!

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  11. What an unusual looking bird! I like it's bright yellow color.

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  12. What a beautiful bird in such brilliant colors!

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  13. It is a beautiful bird and I love the colour!

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  14. Hello Margaret!
    Wonderful birds and fantastic series photoshoot.

    Have a nice Sunday,Margaret:)

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  15. cute, colorful little birdies!!! they don't look like a bird that would be found in the wild!!!!

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  16. Colorful and beautiful bird. So many different birds in this world of ours.
    MB

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  17. That's one of the bird, the Southern Masked Weaver, absolutely stunning images.

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  18. These are wonderful captures...so so beautiful.

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  19. The first one looks like a fearless bird (and larger?)! Good you were photographing a yellow bird, since that's the contrast of blue:) If you have Photoshop it would be easy to fix (but that software is pricy -I got it at a time where I could buy it half of the price). Enjoy your weekend!

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  20. Wow--- wonderful bird, great pix!

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  21. Beautiful photos. What an amazingly colourful birds :)

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  22. Amazing shots, Margaret. Such beautiful colour in the bird and the sky.

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  23. I love the beautiful birds! Makes me feel like warmer weather is here to stay! :)

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  24. What an interesting mask that bird wears!

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  25. Beautiful avians they are, all! The colors are bold, the masks elegant ant the feathers lovely. Your pictures are great, no blue tinge that I can see :)

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  26. Beautiful bird, Margaret. I'd never seen one, even in pictures, before. Thank you!

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  27. What a pretty bird. The mask stands out on those yellow feathers so well.

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  28. What a lovely little bird, , Margaret!

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  29. this is a gorgeous bird, and yesterday we watched a documentary on Kruger Park :-)

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  30. Beautiful bird Margaret - I quite like the blue tinge :)

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  31. He's like a little colourful masked feathered bandit Margaret :)

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  32. Very creative photography of a very beautiful bird!

    Happy Week to you ~ ^_^

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  33. now that´s a strange coloration. Makes me wonder why. Thanks for sharing :)

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  34. Such a pretty bird! The color is amazing!

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