Red-headed Weaver

The Red-headed Weaver male in breeding plumage is distinguished by the red colouring of all or part of its body. The one of the type subspecies in the south has a crimson head, with the lores simply black. The red extends to the chest, clearly separated from the drab whiteness of the rest of the underside. The mantle is red, edged with two black stripes forming a V. The wings and tail are grey-brown with the greater and median coverts edged in yellow. The rather long and thin bill is entirely reddish-orange. The iris is dark brown-red. The legs are flesh-coloured. The inter-breeding male, without red, resembles the female. The head, neck and upper chest are yellow, the former slightly dappled with gold-brown. The upperparts are grey-brown. The wings and rectrices remain unchanged, as do the underparts. Scattered orange feathers may be seen on the crown and breast. The bill is a pale horn-colour. The female plumage is identical to that of the inter-breeding male but brighter yellow in the front of the body. The juvenile resembles the female, only paler, with a tinge of brown on the forehead and underparts, and olive on the upperparts. The bill is grey. Several subspecies have been described, but only 3 are now accepted, including the type subspecies rubriceps in the south described above. In the north, A. r. leuconotos, the male has a large black mask around the eyes extending down onto the cheeks. There is less red on the mantle. Both sexes are greyer above than the other subspecies, lacking the yellow tints. The greater, lesser and median coverts are bordered in red, not yellow.Male A. r. jubaensis is distinctive with an entirely red body, red edges to the wing and tail feathers, and black edges to the scapulars.