Baya Weaver: Amazing Indian Weaver Bird known for Artistic Nests

The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaverbird found across
South and Southeast Asia. Flocks of these birds are found in
grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth and they are
best known for their hanging retort shaped nests woven from leaves.
These nest colonies are usually found on thorny trees or palm fronds
and the nests are often built near water or hanging over water where
predators cannot reach easily. They are widespread and common within
their range but are prone to local, seasonal movements mainly in
response torain and food availability.
Among the population variations, three subspecies are recognized. The
nominate race philippinus is found through much of mainland India
while burmanicus is found eastwards into Southeast Asia. The
population in southwest India is darker above and referred to as
subspecies travancoreensis.
These are sparrow-sized (15 cm) and in their non-breeding plumage,
both males and females resemble female house sparrows. They have a
stout conical bill and a short square tail. Non-breeding males and
females look alike, dark brown streaked fulvous buff above, plain
(unstreaked) whitish fulvous below, eyebrow long and buff coloured,
bill is horn coloured and no mask. Breeding males have a bright yellow
crown, dark brown mask, blackish brown bill, upper parts are dark
brown streaked with yellow, with ayellow breast and cream buff below.
Baya Weavers are social and gregarious birds. They forage in flocks
for seeds,both on the plants and on the ground. Flocks fly in close
formations, often performing complicated manoeuvres. They are known to
glean paddy and other grain in harvested fields, and occasionally
damage ripening crops and are therefore sometimes considered as pests
.