(1010) Ploceus atrigula atrigula Sharpe.
THE EASTERN BAYA.
Ploceus passerinus passerinus, Fauna B. I., Birds, 2nd ed. vol. in, p. 70.
Ploceus atrigula atrigula, ibid. vol. viii, p. 651.
The Eastern Baya occurs throughout the lower hills of the Himalayas from Nepal, and possibly Garhwal, to Eastern Assam, Eastern Bengal and the whole of Northern Burma as far South as Tounghoo and Karenni. In Assam and, so far as I know, in all its Indian habitat, this Baya hardly ever builds its nests in the thatch of houses, but in Burma it does so occasionally, though not so frequently as does the Southern form.
In Assam, although colonies may be found breeding on many kinds of trees, the favourite nesting sites are undoubtedly bamboos and, next to these, palm-trees. The only two nests I ever saw hanging from a thatch roof were two which had been crowded out from a colony building on some palm-trees almost touching the thatch.
Very often these Weaver-Birds will breed on bamboos already occupied by Herons, Egrets and Cormorants, and live in perfect harmony with these, though one would imagine the endless twittering and fussiness of the Weavers would have proved very annoying to the Herons. The colonies generally number some 40 or 50 pairs of birds, but I have seen all sizes from half-a-dozen up to 150 nests.
These latter are in every way exactly like those of the common Indian Baya and need no separate description.
The breeding season everywhere is from April to August, but in most places the vast majority of eggs are laid after the rains hreak in June, In the wetter countries, such as Assam, the eggs are laid as freely in May as in June.
The full clutch numbers from two to six. In Burma the birds in many colonies, according to Harington, never produce more than two in a clutch ; in Assam three or four forms the normal number, though I have often seen five and once six eggs in a nest ; nor do I think, as Hume suggests, that the bigger clutches arc laid by two birds, as their shape often practically proves the contrary.
The eggs ore white and are typical Baya’s eggs in all respects.
One hundred average 21.6 x 14.7 mm. : maxima 23.1 x 14.9 and 21.7 x 16.9 mm. ; minima 20.2 x 14.7 and 21.8 x 14.2 mm.
1010. Ploceus atrigula atrigula
BookTitle:
The Nidification Of Birds Of The Indian Empire
Reference:
Baker, Edward Charles Stuart. The nidification of birds of the Indian Empire. Vol. 3. 1934.
Title in Book:
1010. Ploceus atrigula atrigula
CatNo:
1010
Year:
1934
Page No:
5
Common name:
Eastern Baya
M_ID:
29639
M_CN:
Baya Weaver
M_SN:
Ploceus philippinus
Volume:
Vol. 3
Term name:
id:
14102
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