Behavior

This species is gregarious, and roosts communally in nests at night (see Social and Interspecific Behavior). When threatened on the nest, it will burst through the walls to escape (2 Dean, W. R. J. (2005). Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes squamifrons. In Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. 7th edition (P. A. R. Hockey, W. R. J. Dean and P. G. Ryan, Editors), Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. pp. 1005–1006. Close ). It is a restless and active bird, but also can be tame and confiding (46 Herremans, M. (1997). Scalyfeathered Finch. In Harrison, J. A. et al. (Editors). The Atlas of Southern African Birds. Volume 2:546-547. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa. Close , 2 Dean, W. R. J. (2005). Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes squamifrons. In Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. 7th edition (P. A. R. Hockey, W. R. J. Dean and P. G. Ryan, Editors), Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. pp. 1005–1006. Close ).

This species spends much time on the ground where it hops briskly, also described as "a shuffling-bouncing hop" (64 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history notes on East Cape bird species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ). It seldom walks (3 Craig, A. J. F. K. (2010). Family Ploceidae (weavers). In Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 15: Weavers to New World Warblers (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Christie, Editors), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 74–197. Close ).

Allopreening

Allopreening is fairly common and has been reported by birds on the ground or while perched ( 66 Steyn, P. (1968). Some cases of allopreening. Ostrich 39:36-38. Close , 67 Immelmann, K. (1968). Allopreening in S.A. birds. Ostrich: The Journal of African Ornithology 39:204–204. Close , 64 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history notes on East Cape bird species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ). In captivity, Sporopipes species randomly performed allopreening among unpaired birds, but in pairs, allopreening was performed by the dominant bird and during nesting, the female performed most of the allopreening (68 Harrison, C. J. O. (1969). Further records of allopreening. Avicultural Magazine. 75: 97–99. Close ). In all instances, allopreening was directed at the head region (68 Harrison, C. J. O. (1969). Further records of allopreening. Avicultural Magazine. 75: 97–99. Close ).

Dust Bathing

Dust bathing has been recorded (69 Fry, C. H., and S. Keith (2004). The Birds of Africa. Volume 7. Christopher Helm, London. Close ), although no reference or details were provided - this is an extremely rare behavior in the weaver family (70 Moreau, R. E. (1967). Dust-bathing in Ploceidae? Ibis 109:445. Close ).

Sleeping, Roosting

The Scaly Weaver is known to roost communally for thermoregulatory purposes. Up to 12 birds may roost together in a nest, or 3–4 may cluster together to roost on a branch (see Social and Interspecific Behavior) (1 Craig, A. J. F. K. (2004). Ploceus olivaceiceps (Reichenow). Olive-headed Weaver. In The Birds of Africa. Vol. VII. (C. F. Fry and S. Keith, Editors), Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. pp. 189–191. Close ).

Daily Time Budget

Little is known about the daily activity patterns of the Scaly Weaver. It spends much of the cooler parts of the day foraging on the ground, retreating to trees, bushes, and other objects off the surface of the soil with increasing temperature. It uses trees mainly for self-maintenance activities such as preening, communication, and vigilance, but shows a preference for trees offering different degrees of shadiness depending on the ambient temperature (see Diet and Foraging: Metabolism and Temperature Regulation) (59 Martin, R. O., S. J. Cunningham, and P. A. R. Hockey (2015). Elevated temperatures drive finescale patterns of habitat use in a savanna bird community. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 86:127–135. Close ). On cool days and in the early morning, it shows a preference for the less-shady camelthorn trees (Vachellia erioloba), and avoids the dense shade offered by shepherd's trees (Boscia albitrunca). On hot days and during the hottest parts of the day, it switches its preference to shepherd's trees, avoiding trees that offer less shade (59 Martin, R. O., S. J. Cunningham, and P. A. R. Hockey (2015). Elevated temperatures drive finescale patterns of habitat use in a savanna bird community. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 86:127–135. Close ).

Physical and Communicative Interactions

Bickering is common at a garden feeder (D. Engelbrecht, personal communication), and Edmond Symonds (71 Symonds, E. (1905-1906). Notes on some members of the family Ploceidae occurring in the Kroonstad District, Orange River Colony. The Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union 1/2:27–29 Close ) wrote, "I have kept some in my aviary, but they are so pugnacious and quarrelsome that I was glad to get rid of them."

Territorial Behavior

Males defend a small territory (1 Craig, A. J. F. K. (2004). Ploceus olivaceiceps (Reichenow). Olive-headed Weaver. In The Birds of Africa. Vol. VII. (C. F. Fry and S. Keith, Editors), Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. pp. 189–191. Close ).

Mating System and Operational Sex Ratio

The Scaly Weaver is monogamous, at least within a breeding season, and male defends a small territory (1 Craig, A. J. F. K. (2004). Ploceus olivaceiceps (Reichenow). Olive-headed Weaver. In The Birds of Africa. Vol. VII. (C. F. Fry and S. Keith, Editors), Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. pp. 189–191. Close ).

Courtship, Copulation, and Pair Bond

Courtship is poorly known, but several authors have described some elements. One bird swayed about with tail fanned at the nest entrance (64 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history notes on East Cape bird species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ). The display is similar to that of several estrildid (Estrildidae) finches, with a vertical bobbing display, sometimes with a feather in the bill (72 Payne, R. B. (1969). Nest parasitism and display of Chestnut Sparrows in a colony of Grey-capped Social Weavers. Ibis 111:300-307. Close ). In another observation, the male pointed his bill upwards, with the "moustaches" clearly visible; the wings were fully extended and lifted above the rump, and vibrated at a fast rate (73 van der Walt, A. (2005). Courtship display of the Scaly-feathered Finch (Sporopipes squamifrons). Laniarius 96:18. Close ).

Copulation has been described three times. A male flew to a female, landed on her back with quivering wings. The female crouched and quivered her wings. The male leaned back to make cloacal contact, but did not grasp the female's nape feathers. The female then quivered both wings and tail, and gave a high-pitched call (1 Craig, A. J. F. K. (2004). Ploceus olivaceiceps (Reichenow). Olive-headed Weaver. In The Birds of Africa. Vol. VII. (C. F. Fry and S. Keith, Editors), Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. pp. 189–191. Close ). In another observation, a female perched on a branch, not soliciting, with a male perched on a branch above. The male dropped down and alighted on the back of the female, both birds quivering their wings, then copulated (64 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history notes on East Cape bird species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ). In the third case, the male (based on his role in copulation) approached the female, singing excitedly with quivering wings held slightly away from the body. Occasionally, the male alternately opened and stretched each wing slightly. The female at first took no notice. The male then moved a few branches lower in the same bush, and the female followed suit, her wings now quivering too. She perched immediately adjacent to the male, and the male quickly mounted. Copulation was surprisingly long, at about 10 s. Both birds briefly shook their bodies vigorously and flew off together (74 Engelbrecht, D. (2023). Field notes: Scaly-feathered Weaver. Lark 45:95–99. Close ).

Degree of Sociality

This species usually occurs in small groups of 6–20 birds (57 Maclean, G. L. (1993). Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ), but is rarely seen singly (62 Roberts, A. (1935). Scientific results of the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition, March to September, 1930: birds. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 16:1-185. Close ) or in vast numbers (75 Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. (1912). On the Birds of Ngamiland. Ibis 9(6):355-404. Close ). The Scaly Weaver is often found in flocks of its own species only, but may also occur with sparrows (Passeridae) (76 Farkas, T. (1962). Contribution to the bird fauna of Barberspan. Ostrich 4(Supplement):1–39. Close ) and flocks regularly with estrildids (Estrildidae), especially Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina).

The Scaly Weaver is not a colonial nester, but nests are sometimes clustered in a relatively small area (64 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history notes on East Cape bird species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ). Nests are occasionally found almost side-by-side in a single tree (64 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history notes on East Cape bird species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ).

Communal Roosting

The Scaly Weaver typically roosts at night in a thin-walled roosting nest in groups of up to 12 birds, very rarely as many as 15, and, if disturbed, individuals will burst through the roof of the nest and scatter (77 Hoesch, W., and G. Niethammer (1940). Die Vögelwelt Deutsch-Sudwestafrikas namentlich des Damara- und Namalandes. Journal für Ornithologie 88(Supplement). 404 pp. Close , 78 Collias, N. E., and E. C. Collias (1964). Evolution of nest building in the weaver birds (Ploceidae). University of California Publications in Zoology 73:1–239. Close , 57 Maclean, G. L. (1993). Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ). They are also known to roost in small groups of 3–4 birds in exposed sites, such as a branch within a bush or tree (1 Craig, A. J. F. K. (2004). Ploceus olivaceiceps (Reichenow). Olive-headed Weaver. In The Birds of Africa. Vol. VII. (C. F. Fry and S. Keith, Editors), Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. pp. 189–191. Close ). Group huddling while roosting is an important thermoregulatory behavior in this species (see Diet and Foraging: Metabolism and Temperature Regulation).

This species also roosts in the nests of Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius) at night (79 Oschadleus, H. D. (2017). Birds and animals using weavers nests. Biodiversity Observations 8.28:1-17. Close ), nests that also have thermoregulatory benefits (80 White, F. N., G. A. Bartholomew, and T. R. Howell (1975). The thermal significance of the nest of the Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius: winter observations. Ibis 117:171-179. Close ). It was shown that the temperatures of occupied nests in the communal nest of the Sociable Weaver may be up to 23 °C higher than the ambient temperature on the outside, conferring tremendous energy savings to the occupants, especially during cold winter nights (80 White, F. N., G. A. Bartholomew, and T. R. Howell (1975). The thermal significance of the nest of the Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius: winter observations. Ibis 117:171-179. Close ).

Kinds of Predators

Scaly Weaver have been identified in pellets of Barn Owl (Tyto alba) (81 Dean, W. R. J. (1975). Tyto alba prey in South West Africa and the Northern Cape. Zoologica Africana 10:217-219. Close ), Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus) (82 Nel, J. A. J. (1969). The prey of owls in the Namib Desert, 1. The Spotted Eagle-owl Bubo africanus at Sossus Vlei. Scientific Papers of the Namib Desert Research Station. 4(37-53):55-58. Close ), and Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) (83 Dixon, J. E. W. (1981). Diet of the owl Claucidium [sic] perlatum in the Etosha National Park. Madoqua 12(4):267-268. Close ). Raptors have been seen preying on the Scaly Weaver drinking at waterholes, namely Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) and Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar) (84 Jenkins, A., and R. Davies (2005). Dying for a drink. Running the raptor gauntlet at Kalahari waterholes. Africa - Birds & Birding 10(4):34-45. Close ). An immature male Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) was seen with a Scaly Weaver in its claws (85 Roberts, A. (1928). Birds and mammals from South-west Africa collected by Mr RD Bradfield and presented to the Transvaal Museum, with taxonomic notes and descriptions of new forms. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 12:289-329. Close ).

Larger passerines have been observed to kill Scaly Weaver: a Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) was seen feeding on a Scaly Weaver (86 Düvel, S. (2021). Fork-tailed Drongo feeding on Scaly-feathered Weaver. Lanioturdus 54(1):5. Close ) and Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) were seen twice killing Scaly Weaver (87 Bloomhill, C. (1936). A few bird notes from Southern Rhodesia. Ostrich 7: 99-102. Close ). A Gray-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) was seen carrying in its bill a full-grown but headless Scaly Weaver that the bushshrike must have killed (88 Talent, G. F. (1934). Grey-headed Bush-shrike. Blythswood Review 11:10. Close ).

Nestlings have been taken by Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas), which pecked through the nest roof to extract the chicks (89 Engelbrecht, D. (2011). Avian nest predation: do birds get away with murder? Ornithological Observations 2:102-104. Close ). At one nest, a short-snouted grass snake (Psammophis brevirostris) was found in a nest that had contained four 3 to 4-day-old nestlings, and the snake presumably consumed them all (74 Engelbrecht, D. (2023). Field notes: Scaly-feathered Weaver. Lark 45:95–99. Close ).

A Scaly Weaver was entangled in a golden orb web spider's (Nephila sp.) nest, but after struggling for more than an hour, it managed to free itself (90 van der Walt, G. (2015). Wild things. African Birdlife 3(3):42-51. Close ). Nests are sometimes occupied by armored bush crickets (Acanthoplus discoidalis), which are likely to feed on eggs and nestlings (2 Dean, W. R. J. (2005). Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes squamifrons. In Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. 7th edition (P. A. R. Hockey, W. R. J. Dean and P. G. Ryan, Editors), Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. pp. 1005–1006. Close ).

Response to Predators

When threatened on the nest, it will burst through the walls to escape (2 Dean, W. R. J. (2005). Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes squamifrons. In Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. 7th edition (P. A. R. Hockey, W. R. J. Dean and P. G. Ryan, Editors), Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. pp. 1005–1006. Close ).