Habitat
Terai marshes and extensive stands of Imperata, Narenga, and Saccharum grassland, particularly those that are seasonally inundated, with well-scattered trees, and occasionally interspersed with patchy rice and sugarcane cultivation.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation as a result of drainage, conversion to agriculture (primarily rice-paddy, sugarcane, mustard and tea), overgrazing by domestic livestock and grass harvesting for thatch production, trapping for the cage-bird trade, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Gregarious. Forages in flocks and breeding in colonies.
Voice
Song is subdued 'twit-twit-tit-t-t-t-t-t-trrrrr wheeze whee wee we'. Calls a harsh 'twit-twit' etc.
Finn's Weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus) [XC571760]
by Prashant Kumar from , India (call)
Finn's Weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus) [XC654690]
by id from , India (hatchling or nestling)
Subspecies
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
megarhynchus Hume, 1869 - Northern India (northern Uttar Pradesh) and adjacent extreme south-western Nepal.
salimalii Abdulali, 1961 - North-eastern India (West Bengal and Assam; old records from salt lakes in southern part of West Bengal).
Similar Species
Female/non-breeding male Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) which is smaller with shorter, narrower bill and lacks dark lateral breast-patch.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet