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Social weaver
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social weaver Illustration of a social weaver (Philetairus socius), a small brown and yellow bird perched on a branch, with an acacia tree and a large communal nest visible in the background. Large communal nest of the social weaver bird, Philetairus socius, built in a tree with many entrance holes visible among dense, brown grass woven around bare branches.
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social weaver
social weaver Social weaver (Philetairus socius).

Social weaver

bird
Also known as: Philetairus socius
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Illustration of a social weaver (Philetairus socius), a small brown and yellow bird perched on a branch, with an acacia tree and a large communal nest visible in the background.
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social weaverSocial weaver (Philetairus socius).
Large communal nest of the social weaver bird, Philetairus socius, built in a tree with many entrance holes visible among dense, brown grass woven around bare branches.
2 of 2
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 ā€œapartment houseā€ 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 ā€œbasement.ā€

This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.