Lesser masked weaver

Lesser masked weaver
Male P. i. intermedius, Kenya
Female P. i. cabanisii, South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Ploceus
Species:
P. intermedius
Binomial name
Ploceus intermedius
Rüppell, 1845

The lesser masked weaver (Ploceus intermedius) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It builds its nests in large colonies, often alongside the village weaver and sometimes the red-billed buffalo weaver. This species is commonly parasitised by the Diederik cuckoo. It is found in eastern, south-eastern and southern Africa.

Taxonomy and systematics

There are two subspecies:[2]

  • P. i. intermedius Rüppell, 1845 – From Djibouti to central Tanzania
  • P. i. cabanisii (W. K. H. Peters, 1868) – African west coast and southern Africa
Synonyms are P. i. beattyi in Angola and P. i. luebberti in Namibia

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Ploceus intermedius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22718783A131884515. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22718783A131884515.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius)". Internet Bird Collection. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 21 October 2012.