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Village Weaver Colonies Used Different Nesting Strategies in Wild and Human-Dominated Landscapes

Male village weaver beside its woven nest
Research · Ecology

A study of village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) on the Jos Plateau in Nigeria found clear differences in nest-site characteristics between colonies in wild habitats and those around human settlements. The study was published on 8 January 2026 in Ecology and Evolution.

Researchers recorded 41 colonies at 21 sites across approximately 900 km². Colony size ranged from two to 175 nests, and 63% of the colonies were found in human settlements. Colonies in settlements were larger than those in wild habitats.

The birds nested in a wide range of plants, from native species such as African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) and African fan palm (Borassus aethiopum) to introduced trees such as eucalyptus. Tree circumference was positively associated with colony size.

Wild colonies were linked to taller trees and denser vegetation

The ecological pattern differed between habitats. In wild areas, larger colonies were associated with taller nesting trees and greater tree density around the colony. These colonies therefore occurred more often in structurally dense vegetation.

Settlement colonies were more closely linked to nearby water

Colonies in human settlements showed a different association. Their size was more strongly related to proximity to accessible water, and the study notes that these water-linked areas were often close to seasonal farms containing grain and vegetable crops.

The authors interpret the pattern as two different trade-offs. In wild habitats, larger and taller trees and denser vegetation may provide better concealment and make nests harder for predators to reach. Around settlements, they interpret the strong association with proximity to water in light of nearby seasonal farms rich in grains and vegetables.

Sources and image credit

  1. Ibrahim, J. I., Simon, O. G., Barde, E. E., Abalaka, J., & Manu, S. A. (2026). Ecological factors influencing nest-site selection and colony size in Village Weavers Ploceus cucullatus. Ecology and Evolution, 16(1), e72840.Primary peer-reviewed open-access study, first published 8 January 2026; CC BY 4.0. Researchers recorded 41 colonies at 21 sites on the Jos Plateau and found habitat-dependent associations with colony size and nest-site characteristics.

Image: Timothy Akolamazima / Wikimedia Commons — male Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) beside its woven nest in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, photographed 31 May 2024; representative nesting image, not a bird from the Nigerian study · CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Source

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