White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Builds the largest nests of any sparrow-weaver, with separate entrance and exit tunnels. First bird with a floor plan.

Population: Not quantified (number of mature individuals unknown); described as common to abundant across a very large range (~9.61 million km² extent of occurrence), with a stable population trend
Habitat: Dry savanna, thornveld, and wooded/scrubby grassland, often along riverbanks and permanent rivers/streams; also uses rural gardens; does not occur in forest; ranges from sea level to ~1,900 m elevation
Fun fact: White-browed Sparrow-Weavers live in cooperative family groups of 2-11 birds (one breeding pair plus non-reproductive helpers) that build 10-60 inverted-U-shaped grass nests per colony, with dedicated single-entrance breeding nests and double-entrance roosting nests placed on the leeward side of trees for structural/weather protection; other species like red-headed finches and ashy tits sometimes reuse the nests.
Range: Central, eastern, and southern Africa across roughly 16 countries including Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; non-migratory (resident) throughout
Diet: Omnivorous - primarily insects (beetles, termites, grasshoppers) supplemented with seeds and berries
Size: 0.18 m
Lifespan: 10 years

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