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The Conversation
The Conversation
Maria Cristina Tello Ramos, Lecturer, University of Hull

Avian architects: weaver birds in Africa have unique building styles

A white-browed sparrow weaver looks up at a neighbouring roost. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

From afar, the acacia trees look like they have been decorated with grass pom-poms. The birds have been busy, building shelters of straw and grass. Up close the real shape of the “pom-poms” becomes clear: grass tubes in the form of an upside down “U”, with an opening at each end.

These structures are the work of white-browed sparrow weavers (Plocepasser mahali).

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