Ploceidae

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ploceidae

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Ploceidae
2. What is the key feature?Highly developed nest-building abilities, characterized by intricate weaving techniques using plant materials
3. What do weaver birds build with their wings and beaks?Weaver birds weave amazing nests from grasses, leaves, and other fibrous plants. Their nests can be simple cups or long, hanging structures with a tube entrance.
4. Why do male weaver birds spend so much time making fancy nests?Males build elaborate nests to show off to females. The pretty, strong nests help them win a mate.

Granivorous: An organism that primarily feeds on seeds and grains.
Passerine Birds: A large and diverse order of birds characterized by a perching foot, commonly referred to as songbirds.
Sexual Selection: A mode of natural selection in which members of one biological sex choose mates of the other sex to mate with, and these chosen mates are likely to have a higher chance of survival as well.
Gregarious: Fond of company; sociable, often living or feeding in flocks or herds.