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

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Mana Pools National Park
48 Verified records at Mana Pools National Park
December 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 →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 48 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Mana Pools National Park

Spectacled Weaver
LC

Spectacled Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus ocularis

10–20% · With luck
Lesser Masked-Weaver
LC

Lesser Masked-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus intermedius

10–20% · With luck
Village Weaver
LC

Village Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus cucullatus

5–10% · With luck
Holub's Golden-Weaver
LC

Holub's Golden-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus xanthops

<5% · Rare
Red-billed Quelea
LC

Red-billed Quelea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quelea quelea

30–40% · Possible
Red-headed Weaver
LC

Red-headed Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anaplectes rubriceps

10–20% · With luck
White-winged Widowbird
LC

White-winged Widowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euplectes albonotatus

<5% · Rare
Red Bishop
LC

Red Bishop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euplectes orix

<5% · Rare
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubalornis niger

Insufficient data
Black-winged Bishop
LC

Black-winged Bishop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euplectes hordeaceus

Insufficient data
Red-headed Quelea
LC

Red-headed Quelea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quelea erythrops

Insufficient data
Yellow-rumped Widowbird
LC

Yellow-rumped Widowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euplectes capensis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
10–20
Feb
5–10
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
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 Mana Pools National Park?

About 13% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 48 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

December has the highest sighting rate for Southern Masked Weaver in Mana Pools National Park in our monthly data.

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