iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
1 place
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Dark-backed Weaver
Ploceus bicolor
The dark-backed weaver (Ploceus bicolor), also known as the forest weaver, is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~385 records
Curve from 500 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Dark-backed Weaver is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
500 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Dark-backed Weaver
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
From R 130a night
Dark-backed Weaver recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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Thonga Beach Lodge
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Price on request
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&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
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Zululand Lodge
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Birder friendly
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The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Dark-backed Weaver
Hosts have recorded the Dark-backed Weaver at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Ploceus bicolor
Records
500
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Dark-backed Weaver on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Dark-backed Weaver in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Dark-backed Weaver at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Dark-backed Weaver in South Africa?
The Dark-backed Weaver is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (77% of records), Eastern Cape (21% of records), based on 500 iNaturalist observations. 2 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Dark-backed Weaver on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Dark-backed Weaver?
The Dark-backed Weaver is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Dark-backed Weaver?
The Dark-backed Weaver (Ploceus bicolor) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Dark-backed Weaver?
The dark-backed weaver (Ploceus bicolor), also known as the forest weaver, is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.