Southern Masked Weaver
Southern Masked WeaverSouthern Masked WeaverSouthern Masked WeaverSouthern Masked Weaver

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Namib-Naukluft National Park
395 Verified records at Namib-Naukluft National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus), or African masked weaver, is a resident breeding bird species common throughout southern Africa. This weaver is very widespread and found in a wide range of habitats, including shrubland, savanna, grassland, open woodland, inland wetlands and semi-desert areas. It also occurs in sub-urban gardens and parks. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 395 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park

Chestnut Weaver
LC

Chestnut Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus rubiginosus

Insufficient data
Lesser Masked-Weaver
LC

Lesser Masked-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus intermedius

<5% · Rare
Scaly Weaver
LC

Scaly Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporopipes squamifrons

10–20% · With luck
Red-billed Quelea
LC

Red-billed Quelea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quelea quelea

<5% · Rare
Red Bishop
LC

Red Bishop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euplectes orix

Insufficient data
Cape Sparrow
LC Endemic

Cape Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer melanurus

60–70% · Likely
Cape Wagtail
LC

Cape Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla capensis

40–50% · Likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

30–40% · Possible
Familiar Chat
LC

Familiar Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe familiaris

30–40% · Possible
Dusky Sunbird
LC

Dusky Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris fuscus

30–40% · Possible
Pied Crow
LC

Pied Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus albus

30–40% · Possible
Pale-winged Starling
LC

Pale-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus nabouroup

30–40% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
30–40
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
30–40
Oct
30–40
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
2 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
3 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
4 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
5 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
6 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
7 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
8 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
9 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
10 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
11 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
12 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
13 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
14 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
15 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
16 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
17 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
18 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
5–10%
19 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
20 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
21 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Southern Masked Weaver in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

About 32% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Masked Weaver sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 395 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Southern Masked Weaver in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Southern Masked Weaver in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.

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