Adult male red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps (incorrectly, Anaplectes melanotis), also known as the red-headed Anaplectes or the red-winged weaver, photographed at the Mikumi area, Tanzania, Africa.
Image: Dan Logen, 9 January 2010 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D300, 600 mm x 1.4, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/3200 sec
Question: This African avian architect is so special that it is the only species in its genus. If you cannot identify the species, maybe you can identify this bird's taxonomic family, and tell us why I refer to it as an "avian architect"?
Response: This is an adult male red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps (incorrectly, Anaplectes melanotis). This bird is a member of the family, Ploceidae (look at that heavy bill!), and it gets its common name from its intricate woven nests that resemble a ball, constructed by the male to entice a female to breed with him.
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