Jackson's Golden-backed Weaver

Ploceus jacksoni

Other Names

  Golden-backed Weaver   Tisserin à dos d'or   Jacksonweber         Tessitore di Jackson

World: East Africa from SE Sudan, central and southern Uganda, west and central Kenya, Tanzania. May also occur in Burundi and S Sudan.

Kenya: Mostly W of the Rift Valley although there is a breeding population in the Konza-Namanga-Amboseli-Jipe region to the East.

A gregarious weaver which nests in acacia, ambatch¹ and reeds. Small colonies frequently build their nests over open water. Once the breeding season is over they may disperse to drier areas. We've found them to be most easily seen at Lake Baringo, where in July through to September you can see them in their full breeding plumage (shown above).

¹ Ambatch, Aeschynomeme elaphroxylon, is a spiny tree which grows in pools and swamps bordering lakes. Its wood is very light and pithy and the Njemps fishermen in the Baringo region use it to make their one-man, open-backed fishing boats.