The Stages of Flight
A small flock of Southern Masked Weavers visit a watering hole. These birds are in their non-breeding plumage, and the guys with the red eyes are the males. As soon as Spring starts, they will change into their full breeding plumage.
A male (with a red eye) with its golden breeding plumage.
As mentioned in an earlier post, if one can discover an absolute need for these birds (in this case water as during the end of winter in Namibia water is very scarce), all you need to do is sit still for a few minutes ... and they will come to you.
A female inspects a nest build by a male in breeding plumage. She doesn't have such extraordinary plumage changes than the male, when it comes to the breeding season.
The southern masked weaver or African masked weaver is a resident breeding bird species common throughout southern Africa. This weaver is very widespread and found in a wide range of habitats, including shrubland, savanna, grassland, open woodland, inland wetlands and semi-desert areas. It also occurs in suburban gardens and parks.
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