NT
Giant Weaver Ploceus grandis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Near Threatened C2a(ii)
2018 Near Threatened C2a(ii)
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 970 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2500-9999 mature individuals poor suspected 2018
Population trend decreasing - suspected -
Generation length 4.3 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The species has been described as common across the island (Fry and Keith 2004; Craig 2018). Yet, a recent survey found the species at only 268 out of 3,056 point counts (Soares 2017). Using population densities estimates for congeners (although these are for continental species), the population size may fall in the range 1,000-2,499 mature individuals. However, this species is gregarious, so multiple individuals can be found at a single point count (Jones and Tye 2006), and island species often occur at higher densities (R. F. de Lima in litt. 2018). Therefore, the population size is very tentatively placed here in the range 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The species is tolerant of degraded habitats, so habitat degradation is unlikely to impact this species. However, its tolerance of degraded habitats may bring it into contact with introduced predators such as House Rats (Rattus rattus), but it is highly uncertain whether such predators are having an impact on the species at all. The species is very precautionarily suspected to be declining, but further information could show the species to be stable or even increasing.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
São Tomé e Príncipe extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
São Tomé e Príncipe Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé e Zona Tampão
São Tomé e Príncipe São Tomé lowland forests
São Tomé e Príncipe São Tomé montane and cloud-forests

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations major resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane suitable resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1500 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Cercopithecus mona Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Civettictis civetta Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Giant Weaver Ploceus grandis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/giant-weaver-ploceus-grandis on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.