Least Concern Birds

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver eats seeds and insects in African savannas near water.

Scientific name	Bubalornis niger
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Ploceidae
Size	Male: approximately 120-140 grams; female: slightly lighter, approximately 110-130 grams

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How to identify

Relatively large body size, primarily black plumage with a red bill; bill is stout and bright red; wings and tail feathers have white markings; head and chest feathers are somewhat fluffy; commonly seen nesting in groups with complex nest structures

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, shrublands, open semi-arid areas, often near water sources

Diet

Omnivorous, mainly feeding on seeds, insects, and other small invertebrates

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day, especially in early morning and late afternoon

Where it lives

Mainly distributed in eastern and southern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe; commonly found in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Look for groups nesting behavior in open shrublands or edges of open woodland savanna during early morning or late afternoon

Photography tips

Use telephoto lenses to capture nest details and group interactions, pay attention to light changes; soft light in morning and evening is ideal for photography