565 Baya Weaver

The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a 15 cm long small bird resembling a sparrow. It has dark brown streaked back and plain whitish underparts; breeding males have bright yellow crown and blackish brown bill. The species is a resident breeder found in the grasslands, scrubs, and cultivated fields of the South and Southeast Asia. The males make finely woven retort-shaped nests which the females inspect before deciding to mate. The birds establish colonies of such nests hanging from tree branches above water bodies where the predators can not reach.