Thickbilled Weaver

The Thickbilled Weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons, is a stout weaver that occurs from South Africa to East Africa.  It uses its thick bill for crushing hard seeds and fruit stones.  It also weaves these surprisingly intricate nests, found in reed beds.  The female is streaky, while the male shown here is plain brown with a white forehead and wing patches.  They've been expanding their range in recent years, once only being found in low-lying country in the east, now being found in the high-lying inland plateau, in towns like Pretoria and also my home town, Polokwane.  These visit my garden from time to time.  Watercolour.