Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
social weaver
Social weaver (Philetairus socius).
social weaver
bird
Also known as: Philetairus socius
social weaverSocial weaver (Philetairus socius).
social weaver nestsNests of the social weaver (Philetairus socius).
social weaver, any of a number of small African birds of the family Ploceidae (order Passeriformes) that are extremely gregarious. This name is given particularly to Philetairus socius, which makes an “apartment house” in a tree: dozens of pairs of these little black-chinned birds cooperate year-round to maintain a thatchlike roof over the colony, which may contain 300 chambers (one per pair); the roof may be 7.5 metres (25 feet) wide and 1.5 metre high. Each cluster of chambers has a common tunnel entrance from the “basement.”
This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.