Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Population justification
Based on this species’s apparent rarity, taking the lower quartiles of density estimates of three forest-dwelling congeners, including the Southern Masked-weaver Ploceus velatus, Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis and Holub’s Golden-weaver Ploceus xanthops of 2-8 individuals/sqkm (BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet; Vernon 1985), and assuming it inhabits 10% of the forest within its range (16,000 sqkm [Global Forest Watch 2021]), the population may fall in the band 3,200-12,800 individuals. This is roughly equivalent to 2,133-8,533 mature individuals rounded here to 2,100-8,600 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population is inferred to be in decline owing to the clearance of forest (Global Forest Watch 2021), mainly for agriculture. Between 2000-2018, this species's experienced tree cover loss of 17% (Global Forest Watch 2021), which would equate to a rate of c.10% over three generations. Assuming that the population declines at a similar rate, then the past rate of decline is suspected to fall into the 1-15% band. During the years 2016-2019, this species experienced a forest cover loss of 8.1% across its range (Global Forest Watch 2021). Projected forwards over three generations from 2016, this would equate to a loss of 21%. Assuming that the population declines at a similar rate, then the future rate of decline is suspected to fall in the band of 20-29%.
Ploceus aureonucha is known from a small part of the Ituri Forest, between Mawambi, Irumu and Beni in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it had not been seen since 1926 until encountered several times during 1986, including a flock of 60 at Epulu (M. C. Catsis in litt. 1989), where a pair feeding two young were also observed in 1993 (M. Languy in litt. 1994). More recently, there were observations of a pair in Semliki National Park, Uganda, in August 2006, and 2009 extending the species's known range 80 km to the east (M. Wilson in litt. 2006, Wilson et al. 2007, Demey, 2009). The paucity of records has led to the suggestion that it may possibly not be a valid species - records instead representing occasional hybrids (perhaps between Ploceus nigerrimus and P. tricolor), or perhaps more likely an undescribed subadult plumage of P. tricolor (Craig 2005) - however it is uncertain why hybrids, or an undescribed subadult plumage, should be known only from a tiny part of the easternmost fringe of the ranges of Ploceus nigerrimus and P. tricolor (L. D. C. Fishpool in litt. 2010, Fishpool and Collar 2018). P. aureonucha may well prove to be a valid species which occurs at very low densities in a poorly-known region. This is supported by molecular data (Louette et al. 2012).
It is found in the canopy of lowland rainforest, with most records coming from dense primary forest, though it has been recorded from forest edge and old secondary growth with many tall trees remaining. It has been sighted in a flock of up to 60 birds, and it is possible that the species normally occurs in parties. It feeds on fruit and insects. An adult in breeding condition has been collected in September and juveniles have also been found in the same month.
Its habitat is threatened by forest clearance (mainly for agriculture). It was likely that the rate of deforestation increased in the past as a result of warfare (Kanyamibwa 1995).
Conservation Actions Underway
Epulu lies within the Okapi Faunal Reserve (Blom 1990). Its status in Semliki National Park is unknown. Molecular research has been conducted to investigate the validity of the taxon, and it appears to support its listing as a valid species (Louett et al. 2012). It had been suggested that records may refer to occasional hybrids, perhaps between Ploceus nigerrimus and P. tricolor, or an undescribed subadult plumage of P. tricolor (Craig 2005). However, these suggestions have been refuted by Fishpool & Collar (2018), based on plumage sequences and measurements of museum specimens.
13-14 cm. Strikingly coloured weaver. Adult male largely black above with deep reddish-brown crown, ruff of orange on nape which merges into a broad yellow collar, yellow stripe down middle of back. Greyish-green underparts with black throat and deep chestnut chest. Immature and possibly female has paler brown crown and golden-brown band on back of the neck. Similar spp. Similar in appearance and behaviour to Yellow-mantled Weaver P. tricolor. Both have yellow collar but only aureonucha has orange ruff and darker underparts. Voice Unknown.
Text account compilers
Clark, J.
Contributors
Bird, J., Butchart, S., Catsis, M., Ekstrom, J., Fishpool, L., Languy, M., Oschadleus, H. D., Shutes, S., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Westrip, J.R.S. & Wilson, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Golden-naped Weaver Ploceus aureonucha. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/golden-naped-weaver-ploceus-aureonucha on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.