Updated
Weavers are small, often yellow-and-black birds famous for their woven nests, and Uganda has dozens of species. In the highlands around Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi you will see colonies of village weavers hanging their nests from roadside trees, along with Baglafecht and spectacled weavers. Bwindi also has the strange weaver, an Albertine Rift endemic of the forest.
How the nests are built
Male weavers build the nests, knotting and weaving strips of grass and leaves with their beaks into a hanging ball with an entrance at the bottom, which keeps out snakes and other predators. A female inspects each nest, and if she rejects it, the male often tears it down and starts again. Colonies of village weavers can hold dozens of nests in a single tree, and the noise and activity are easy to watch from a lodge or roadside.
Weavers to look for
The village weaver is the most common, with a black face and bright yellow body. The Baglafecht weaver is a highland bird with a black mask. The spectacled weaver has a thin black line through the eye and builds a nest with a long entrance tube. The strange weaver, with a black head and chestnut breast, lives in Bwindi’s forests and is a target for birders.
Where to see it
Look in trees near villages, lodges and Lake Bunyonyi; colonies are often over water or roads. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Lake Bunyonyi, Albertine Rift endemic birds, the papyrus gonolek and Uganda birding.
Frequently asked questions
The males; females choose which nest to accept.
To make it harder for snakes and other predators to get in.
The strange weaver, found in forests such as Bwindi.
Around villages, lodges and lakes, including Lake Bunyonyi and Entebbe.
