Ploceidae

Ploceidae is a family of passerine birds that includes weavers, bishops, and queleas. Its species occur chiefly in Africa and Asia.

Passerine: A bird in the order Passeriformes, the largest living order of birds. Ploceidae belongs to this order of perching birds.
Bird nest: A structure built by birds to hold eggs and, often, nestlings. Many Ploceidae build enclosed nests from woven grasses and leaves.
Red-billed quelea: A small African weaverbird that forms immense flocks and feeds mainly on grass seeds. Its vast flocks can consume grain and damage cereal crops.
Sociable weaver: A southern African weaverbird that builds enormous communal nests containing many breeding chambers. Its lasting communal structures contrast with the typical individual woven nest.
Bird: A warm-blooded vertebrate with feathers, a beak, and forelimbs modified as wings. Ploceidae is one family within the broader class of birds.
Sexual selection: A form of natural selection driven by differences in mating success. In several weavers, male plumage and nest displays influence mate choice.
Agricultural pest: An organism that damages crops or stored agricultural products. Red-billed queleas are among Africa’s most consequential bird crop pests.
Village weaver: A widespread African weaverbird whose males build conspicuous hanging nests in colonies. It exemplifies colonial nesting and mate-attracting nest construction.
Weaverbird: A common name for several Ploceidae, especially species that weave elaborate nests from plant fibers. Weavers are the family’s best-known members and give it its name.
Colonial breeding: A breeding system in which multiple pairs nest close together in a colony. Many weavers nest in dense colonies, sometimes sharing trees or reed beds.

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PasseriformesBroader topic: Weavers provide a striking example of specialized nest-building behavior.