Southern Masked Weaver
Southern Masked WeaverSouthern Masked WeaverSouthern Masked WeaverSouthern Masked Weaver

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Etosha National Park
475 Verified records at Etosha National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus), or African masked weaver, is a resident breeding bird species common throughout southern Africa. This weaver is very widespread and found in a wide range of habitats, including shrubland, savanna, grassland, open woodland, inland wetlands and semi-desert areas. It also occurs in sub-urban gardens and parks. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 475 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Lesser Masked-Weaver
LC

Lesser Masked-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus intermedius

5–10% · With luck
Chestnut Weaver
LC

Chestnut Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus rubiginosus

5–10% · Rare
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubalornis niger

20–30% · Possible
Red-billed Quelea
LC

Red-billed Quelea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quelea quelea

20–30% · Possible
Scaly Weaver
LC

Scaly Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporopipes squamifrons

20–30% · Possible
Red-headed Weaver
LC

Red-headed Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anaplectes rubriceps

<5% · Rare
Red Bishop
LC

Red Bishop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euplectes orix

<5% · Rare
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

80–90% · Very likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

60–70% · Likely
Cape Crow
LC

Cape Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus capensis

40–50% · Likely
Pied Crow
LC

Pied Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus albus

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
30–40
Feb
5–10
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
20–30
Jul
30–40
Aug
40–50
Sep
30–40
Oct
50–60
Nov
40–50
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
2 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
3 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
4 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
5 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
6 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
7 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
8 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
9 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
10 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
11 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
12 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
13 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
14 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
15 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
16 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
17 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
18 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
5–10%
19 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
20 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
21 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Southern Masked Weaver in Etosha National Park?

About 32% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 475 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Southern Masked Weaver in Etosha National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Southern Masked Weaver in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

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