Baya Weaver’s new food source – oil palm fruits

“Traditional records, and my own observations, indicate that Baya Weavers (Ploceus philippinus infortunatus) primarily feed on seeds/grain. Most records of animal prey are associated with feeding of juveniles.

“Saw some Baya Weavers feeding on discarded Palm Oil (Elaeis guineensis) fruits (above, below).

“Craig (2016). Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive states that adults are ‘primarily granivorous’ but does also describe animal prey in other countries.

“The Weaver Watch (Monitoring the Weavers of the World) site states about food that ‘The Baya Weaver feeds on seeds, including those of grass, rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, millet and sunflowers. Insects include grasshoppers, flies, termites, beetles, caterpillars and butterflies. It also feeds on nectar, spiders, small snails, and rice frogs. Rice is often the most important food item‘ LINK.

Wells (2007). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Volume 2: Passerines states that it feeds predominantly on rice and wild grass-seed with few other food sources.

Over the years I have reported a number of other food including animal prey, nectar and small fruit. I have also observed them feeding on the seeds of Mimosa pigra.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2nd January 2017

Habitat: Secondary growth