Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi Scientific name definitions

15 cm; 20–28 g. Male has black forehead and crown down to ear-coverts, forming well-marked helmet; upperparts and upperwing plain olive-green, tail brownish-green; chin black, throat to chest yellow, extending as sharply defined yellow band around nape, where sometimes washed bright orange; narrow olive collar across upper breast, lower breast , belly, flanks and thighs grey, undertail-coverts rufous-chestnut; iris brown to dark reddish-brown; bill black; legs greyish. Female resembles male, but black on head mainly replaced with yellow, except for dark grey lores, and olive patch on crown extending down behind eye and onto darker ear-coverts; legs greyish to fleshy-pink. Juvenile has greenish head with some yellow above eye and on throat, generally duller than female, bill yellowish, often with black patches (probably uniformly pale in youngest birds).

N & E Madagascar (Mt d’Ambre, and from Tsaratanana E to Sambava and S to Tolagnaro).

Breeds Sept–Dec. Monogamous, probably with long-term pair-bond. Solitary, with nests widely separated; sometimes two nests at a site, only one occupied, perhaps built by same individual. Nest bulky, with entrance tunnel up to 20 cm long leading to oval nest-chamber, woven by male from grass and palm fibres, one nest mainly of pine (Pinus) needles, attached at base by a "stalk" 15–30 cm long, 2–7 m above ground, often suspended over stream, or over path or clearing; female may contribute lining material. Clutch 2–4 eggs, most often 3, pale greenish-blue, average size 21 x 15·5 mm; female seen while incubating, but roles of sexes in incubation and in tending of nestlings undescribed; fledglings fed by both parents; young at first form family party with parents. No other information.