Breeding habits and nesting success of the Village Weaver Ploceuscucullatus, at Khartoum, Sudan

Field observations were made of the breeding habits of the Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus at sites in Khartoum State, Sudan. Descriptions are given of the nest, nest sites, and the roles played by males and females of the polygynous mating system during the nesting period. Nest building commenced in April first season and in February the second season, before the onset of the June-July rains, to, ensure that there would be abundant food (grass seeds and insects) available when young were in the nest. Breeding success was moderate with only 55 of 144 eggs, (38 %) producing fledglings from a sample of 25 nests.