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07 April 2016

Breeding Rueppell’s Weaver in Qatif – Bird records by Mohammed Alruqaya

Mohammed Alruqaya found some Rueppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula in Qatif whilst birding in mid-March and the birds were seen nest builing with the male building the nest and the female looking on. This is a species that does not occur in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom so these birds are probably from escaped or released cage birds as is the case with the species in Riyadh the nearest area where they occur. In Saudi Arabia Rueppell’s Weaver is a common and widespread breeding resident species in the southwest of the Kingdom occurring north to south of Jeddah. Apparently it is only a summer breeding visitor to Hejaz and Asir mountains preferring to spend the winter at lower elevations and is not found on summits or in juniper and is less common here than in the lowlands.
Rueppell’s Weaver

Rueppell’s Weaver

Rueppell’s Weaver

Rueppell’s Weaver

Rueppell’s Weaver

Rueppell’s Weaver